Method of detecting Coccidioides species

ABSTRACT

The present technology provides methods and kits that may be used to detect and quantify the presence of  Coccidioides  species. The methods include quantification real-time PCR assays, and the kits and compositions include oligonucleotides used as primers and probes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/935,668, filed Jul. 5, 2013 (published as US 20140011693), which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/668,203, filed Jul. 5, 2012; this application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/319,612, filed Apr. 7, 2016. The entire contents and disclosure of the above-mentioned applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL ELECTRONICALLY FILED

Incorporated by reference in its entirety herein is a computer-readable nucleotide/amino acid sequence listing submitted concurrently herewith and identified as follows: One 8 kilobyte ASCII (text) file named “Seq_list” created on Jul. 15, 2016.

FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY

The present technology provides methods and kits for specifically detecting and quantifying Coccidioides in a sample, including an environmentally derived sample, such as soil.

BACKGROUND OF THE TECHNOLOGY

Coccidioidomycosis is caused by infection with Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii (collectively “Coccidioides”). C. immitis and C. posadasii are the fungal etiologic agents of coccidioidomycosis (a.k.a. Valley Fever) and are endemic to arid soils of the southwest United States, as well as parts of Mexico, and Central and South America. Primary hosts acquire Coccidioides via inhalation of aerosolized arthroconidia upon soil disruption. Coccidioidomycosis most commonly causes a progressive pulmonary infection in humans and other vertebrate hosts but also can disseminate to other body parts including the skin, brain, bone, and meninges. This disseminated secondary coccidioidomycosis often is severe and can result in patient death. However, in cases where infection is resolved, patients usually acquire a specific and lifelong immunity to the fungus.

Coccidioidomycosis infection rates have increased dramatically in the last decade with the State of Arizona documenting the number of reported cases per 100,000 people having increased from 20.8 in 1997 to 186.0 in 2010. Increased physician awareness and testing likely accounts for a portion of this case increase. An additional cause for this increase may be influxes of immunologically naïve individuals into Arizona. A significant number of individuals from outside the Coccidioides endemic region migrate annually to the desert southwest and are at greater risk for developing coccidioidomycosis, even after returning to their respective homes. These infections, therefore, are likely to escape or confound diagnosis in non-endemic regions.

While Real-Time PCR based assays have been developed that can help clinicians identify Coccidioides as a cause of illness, these assays have lacked needed sensitivity and do not accurately quantify the load of Coccidioides organisms in an infection.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE TECHNOLOGY

Provided herein is a method of determining the presence or absence of Coccidioides in a DNA-containing sample. The general method comprises the steps of: (1) adding a first and a second oligonucleotide capable of binding SEQ ID NO. 1 to a mixture comprising the DNA-containing sample, wherein the first oligonucleotide includes at least one sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 10-20 and oligonucleotides having at least 90% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 10-20, wherein the second oligonucleotide includes at least one sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NOs: 21-38, and oligonucleotides having at least 90% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 21-38. The method may also include (2) subjecting the mixture containing the first and second oligonucleotides to conditions that allow amplification of nucleic acid comprising the first oligonucleotide, (3) obtaining a result indicating nucleic acid amplification comprising the first oligonucleotide; and (4) determining the presence or absence of Coccidioides in the DNA-containing sample based on the result. In some examples, the result obtained by the general method comprises a Ct value. The general method as set forth above may further comprise the step of adding a third oligonucleotide to the mixture, wherein the third oligonucleotide binds to its complement included in the amplification products by the first and second oligonucleotides. The third oligonucleotide preferably includes a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 2 and homologs thereof having at least 90% sequence identity and complementarity under similar stringency. In the general method, at least one of the first, the second and the third oligonucleotides comprises a label. For some examples, the label may comprise a fluorescent label selected from the group consisting of FAM, dR110, 5-FAM, 6FAM, dR6G, JOE, HEX, VIC, TET, dTAMRA, TAMRA, NED, dROX, PET, BHQ+, Gold540, MGB-NFQ, and LIZ. In one example, the third oligonucleotide comprises a fluorescent label selected from the group consisting of FAM, dR110, 5-FAM, 6FAM, dR6G, JOE, HEX, VIC, TET, dTAMRA, TAMRA, NED, dROX, PET, BHQ+, Gold540, MGB-NFQ, and LIZ. In some preferred embodiments, when at least one, two or all of the first, second, and third oligonucleotides include labels, the labels are preferably different for the at least two and preferably for all of the first, second, and third oligonucleotides, respectively.

The general method as provided may further comprise the step of isolating DNA from the DNA-containing sample. The sample may comprise an environmental sample or may be derived from a subject. In preferred forms, the subject is selected from the group consisting of a human, a companion animal, a livestock animal, and a wild animal species. In other preferred aspects, the environmental sample may be a soil sample.

Also provided is a method of quantifying Coccidioides in a DNA-containing sample. The method may comprise the steps of: (1) adding a first and a second oligonucleotide capable of binding SEQ ID NO. 1 to a mixture comprising the DNA-containing sample, wherein the first oligonucleotide includes at least one sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 10-20 and oligonucleotides having at least 90% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 10-20, wherein the second oligonucleotide includes at least one sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NOs: 21-38, and oligonucleotides having at least 90% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 21-38; (2) subjecting the mixture containing the first and second oligonucleotides to conditions that allow amplification of a template DNA comprising the first oligonucleotide; (3) obtaining a first result indicating amplification of the template DNA and Coccidioides quantification; and (4) calculating Coccidioides quantification based on the first result in comparison to a reference result, wherein Coccidioides quantification determines the amount of template DNA in the sample. In some example, the reference result is obtained by the same quantification method using a DNA-containing sample having a known quantity of Coccidioides. In some other example, the reference result is predetermined. Sometimes, each of the first and the reference result comprises a Ct value.

The quantification method may further comprise the step of adding a third oligonucleotide to the mixture, wherein the third oligonucleotide binds to its complement included in the amplification products by the first and second oligonucleotides. In one example, the third oligonucleotide includes a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 2 and homologs thereof having at least 90% sequence identity and complementarity under similar stringency. In the quantification method, at least one of the first and the second oligonucleotides comprises a label. In some preferred forms, if more than one of the first, second, or third oligonucleotides are used and more than one of these includes a label, the labels will be different for the first, second, and third nucleotides, respectively. In some examples, the label comprises a fluorescent label selected from the group consisting of FAM, dR110, 5-FAM, 6FAM, dR6G, JOE, HEX, VIC, TET, dTAMRA, TAMRA, NED, dROX, PET, BHQ+, Gold540, MGB-NFQ, and LIZ. In one example, the third oligonucleotide comprises a fluorescent label selected from the group consisting of FAM, dR110, 5-FAM, 6FAM, dR6G, JOE, HEX, VIC, TET, dTAMRA, TAMRA, NED, dROX, PET, BHQ+, Gold540, MGB-NFQ, and LIZ.

The quantification method may further comprise the step of isolating DNA from the DNA-containing sample. In some examples, the sample comprises an environmental sample. In other examples, the sample is derived from a subject, preferably the subject is selected from the group consisting of a human, a companion animal, and a livestock animal. In some additional embodiments, the environmental sample may comprise a soil sample.

Other aspects and iterations of the technology are described in more detail below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE TECHNOLOGY

The present technology discloses assays, methods and kits designed to detect and quantify total Coccidioides sp in a sample. This technology provides a genomic target specific to Coccidioides sp, including C. immitis and C. posadasii, and other Coccidiodies species. A real-time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (real-time qPCR) based assay, providing a straightforward, highly sensitive and specific assay system for rapidly detecting and quantifying Coccidioides in a sample, is provided based on the genomic target disclosed herein.

I. Species or Strain Specific Sequences

Species or strain specific sequences are sequences unique to the species or strain, that is, not shared by other previously characterized species or strains. The species specific sequences identified in C. immitis and C. posadasii often differ only by a single nucleotide, which is called SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism). The strain specific SNP, is also called allelic identification herein, signifies the identity of C. immitis or C. posadasii. The concept of “allele” or “allelic” is detailed below.

When a particular species or strain specific sequence is identified, probes or primers may be designed based on any part of that sequence. The probes or primers may also be the entirety of that sequence. The primers or probes designed according to a particular species or strain sequence, or alleles thereof, may also be represented in degenerate form, or comprise chemically modified nucleic acids, or any other components that facilitate the identification of the identifying sequence of a strain or species. The concept of a sequence identified to be specific to a species or strain further encompasses nucleic acid sequences that are less than 100% identical to the specific sequence, but are still capable of specifically detecting the species or strain. Note that in a nucleic acid sequence, T or U may be used interchangeably depending on whether the nucleic acid is DNA or RNA. A sequence having less than 60% 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 99% or 100% identity to the identifying sequence or allele thereof may still be encompassed by the technology if it is capable of binding to its complementary sequence and/or facilitating nucleic acid amplification of a desired target sequence.

As used herein, the term “sample” may refer to any source in which Coccidioides nucleic acids may be detectable. A sample may be derived from anywhere that fungus or any part of a fungal body may be found including soil, air, water, solid surfaces (whether natural or artificial) culture media, foodstuffs, and any interfaces between or combinations of these elements. Additionally, a sample may be derived from a subject, such as a plant or animal, including humans. Samples derived from animals include but are not limited to biopsy or other in vivo or ex vivo analysis of prostate, breast, skin, muscle, facia, brain, endometrium, lung, head and neck, pancreas, small intestine, blood, liver, testes, ovaries, colon, skin, stomach, esophagus, spleen, lymph node, bone marrow, kidney, placenta, or fetus. Samples derived from subjects may also take the form of a fluid sample such as peripheral blood, lymph fluid, ascites, serous fluid, pleural effusion, sputum, bronchial wash, bronchioalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), cerebrospinal fluid, semen, amniotic fluid, lacrimal fluid, stool, urine, hair, or any other source in which a fungus, or any part of a fungus might be present. Samples collected from a plant may be collected from part of a plant or from an entire plant. Samples may be collected by any method now known or yet to be disclosed, including swiping or swabbing an area or orifice, removal of a piece of tissue as in a biopsy, or any method known to collect bodily fluids. Samples may also include Coccidioides that has been previously isolated from one or more prior samples and grown in an isolated environment (e.g., a laboratory). Thereafter, one or more biomolecules (e.g., nucleic acids or protein) can be isolated from the Coccidioides for used in the methods disclosed herein.

An allele includes any form of a particular nucleic acid that may be recognized as a form of existence of a particular nucleic acid on account of its location, sequence, modification, or any other characteristics that may identify it as being a particular existing form of that particular nucleic acid. Alleles include, but need not be limited to, forms of a nucleic acid that include point mutations, deletions, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), inversions, translocations, heterochromatic insertions, and differentially methylated sequences relative to a reference gene, whether alone or in combination. When a particular nucleic acid is a gene, the allele of this particular gene may or may not produce a functional protein; the functional protein thereof may or may not comprise a silent mutation, or frame-shift mutation. The different alleles of a particular gene may each produce a protein with altered function, localization, stability, dimerization, or protein-protein interaction; and may have overexpression, under-expression or no expression; may have altered temporal or spatial expression specificity. The presence or absence of an allele may be detected through the use of any process known in the art, including using primers and probes designed accordingly for PCR, sequencing, hybridization analyses. An allele may also be called a mutation or a mutant. An allele may be compared to another allele that may be termed a wild type form of an allele. In some cases, the wild type allele is more common than the mutant.

The term “primer” refers to an oligonucleotide, whether occurring naturally as in a purified restriction digest or produced synthetically, which is capable of acting as a point of initiation of synthesis when placed under conditions in which synthesis of a primer extension product which is complementary to a nucleic acid strand is induced, i.e., in the presence of nucleotides and an inducing agent such as DNA polymerase and at a suitable temperature and pH. The primer is preferably single-stranded for maximum efficiency in amplification. Alternatively, the primer is first treated to ensure that it is single-stranded before being used to prepare extension products. Preferably, the primer is an oligodeoxyribonucleotide. The primer must be sufficiently long to prime the synthesis of extension products in the presence of the inducing agent. The exact lengths of the primers will depend on many factors, including temperature, source of primer and the use of the method. Oligonucleotides, such as a probe or primer, containing a sequence complementary to a sequence specific to a Coccidioides species or strain will typically not hybridize to the corresponding portion of the genome of other species or strains under stringent conditions. Understood by those skilled in the art, for example, high stringent hybridization conditions are equivalent to: 5×SSPE, 0.5% SDS, 5×Denhardt's reagent and 100 μg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA at 42° C. followed by washing in a solution comprising 0.1×SSPE, 1.0% SDS at 42° C. when a probe of about 500 nucleotides in length is employed, and washed with 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS followed by 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS. Stringent conditions in PCR reaction may be controlled by temperature or by the concentration of certain salt in the buffer.

Primers and probes that are designed based on strain specific genes, allelic discriminative nucleic acid, or alleles thereof, are often used to screen samples to specifically and selectively detect the presence or absence of a particular species or strain of a bacteria, fungus, virus, or a pathogen thereof. The detection using primers and probes may be through various methods including PCR-based (polymerase chain reaction-based) methods such as real-time PCR, quantitative PCR, quantitative real time PCR; allele specific ligation; comparative genomic hybridization; sequencing; and other methods known in the art. One aspect of the present technology provides primers based on Coccidioides specific sequence for quantitative PCR assays comprising one or more specific primer sets and probes to detect the presence of Coccidioides DNA.

When a nucleic acid includes a particular sequence, the sequence may be a part of a longer nucleic acid or may be the entirety of the sequence. The nucleic acid may contain nucleotides 5′ of the sequence, 3′ of the sequence, or both. The concept of a nucleic acid including a particular sequence further encompasses nucleic acids that contain less than the full sequence that are still capable of specifically detecting a marker. Nucleic acid sequences may be identified by the IUAPC letter code which is as follows: A—Adenine base; C—Cytosine base; G—guanine base; T or U—thymine or uracil base. For some degenerate primers or oligonucleotides, the following abbreviations may be used to provide sequence information: M-A or C; R-A or G; W-A or T; S-C or G; Y-C or T; K-G or T; V-A or C or G; H-A or C or T; D-A or G or T; B-C or G or T; N or X-A or C or G or T. Note that T or U may be used interchangeably depending on whether the nucleic acid is DNA or RNA.

As to probes, they may be used for single probe analysis or multiplex probe/primer combined Real Time PCR and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis. Oligonucleotide probes complementary to a selected sequence within the target sequence defined by the amplification region by the primers may be designed. In one exemplary example, oligonucleotide probes facilitating Real Time-PCR/qPCR product detection are complementary to a selected sequence within the target sequence downstream from either the upstream or downstream primer. Therefore, these probes hybridize to an internal sequence of the amplified fragment of a targeted sequence.

Many assays detecting the presence of a target can also quantify the amount of the target in a given sample. In particular, when there is only one copy of the identified strain specific genes, alleles thereof, or other allelic discriminative nucleic acid in a fungal genome, the primers and probes designed to specifically and selectively detect the presence or absence of such single copy target may be further used to quantify the amount of Coccidioides spp in a sample. In one embodiment, the Coccidioides quantitative diagnosis assay (“CocciDxQ” hereafter) as provided herein is used to quantify Coccidioides via a region that is associated with copia-like retrotransposon family protein found in Coccidioides posadasii C735 delta SOWgp (GenBank Accession XM 003069703.1; SEQ ID NO:1—TGTTAGGTAATCCAACTAGCACCTCGCTCACGTGACCCACATAGATTAGCCGAGATT CCCCTTTAGGTAGCTTAGTGAATGACAAGCATACAAGTCCTCCATCA) specific to Coccidioides species.

In some embodiments, the copia-like retrotransposon family protein found in Coccidioides posadasii C735 delta SOWgp (SEQ ID NO: 1) can be employed with additional assays. For example, some embodiments provide an assay that can be used to detect Coccidioides in samples, such as a soil sample or a sample derived from a non-environmental source (hereinafter “CocciENV”). For example, CocciENV can be used to detect the presence of one or more species of Coccidioides in a soil sample for any downstream purposes, such as establishing an area of endemic Valley Fever. In other embodiments, CocciENV can be used for diagnostic or any other purposes desired by the user.

In some embodiments, the CocciDxQ assay is a real-time PCR that employs a probe and a multiplex set of forward primers and reverse primers that target part or all of the target sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1. In one embodiment, the probe is labeled with fluorescence. In another embodiment, the probe comprises a 6FAM and an MGB-NFQ label. In one embodiment the probe comprises a sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 or homologs of SEQ ID NO: 2 with at least 80%, more preferably 90%, still more preferably 91%, even more preferably 92%, still more preferably 93%, even more preferably 94%, still more preferably 95%, even more preferably 96%, still more preferably 97%, even more preferably 98%, still more preferably 99%, and most preferably 99.8% or more identity and complementarity under similar stringency. In one embodiment, the CocciDxQ assay as disclosed herein comprises at least one forward primer and at least one reverse primer comprising primer sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs in Table 1 or homologs of SEQ ID NOs in Table 1 with at least 80% more preferably 90%, still more preferably 91%, even more preferably 92%, still more preferably 93%, even more preferably 94%, still more preferably 95%, even more preferably 96%, still more preferably 97%, even more preferably 98%, still more preferably 99%, and most preferably 99.8% or more identity and complementarity under similar stringency. In one embodiment, the forward primers comprise one or more degenerative primers. In another embodiment, the reverse primers comprise one or more degenerative primers. In yet another embodiment, both the forward primers and the reverse primers comprise one or more degenerative primers. In some embodiments, the CocciDxQ assay may comprise more than 1 forward primer and more than 1 reverse primer. For example, the CocciDxQ assay may comprise two, three, four and more primers; as such, the CocciDxQ assay may comprise two forward primers and one reverse primer, or two forward primers and two reverse primers, or three forward primers and one reverse primer. In one embodiment, the CocciDxQ assay comprises three forward primers and four reverse primers represented by SEQ ID NOs: 3-9 (Table 1).

TABLE 1 CocciDxQ Assay Probe Name Probe Sequence 5′ to 3′ SEQ ID NO CQ_3_probe ACCCACATAGATTAGC SEQ ID NO: 2 Forward Primer Name Forward Primer Sequence 5′ to 3′ CQ_3_F_v2a GTGTTAGGTAGTCCAACTAGCACCT SEQ ID NO: 3 CQ_3_F_v2b GTGTTAGGTAATCCAACCAGCACCT SEQ ID NO: 4 CQ_3_F_v2c GTGTTAGGTAATCCAACTAGCACCT SEQ ID NO: 5 Reverse Primer Name Reverse Primer Sequence 5′ to 3′ CQ_3_R_v2a CTGATGGAGGACTCGTATGCTTGT SEQ ID NO: 6 CQ_3_R_v2b CTGATGGAGGACTTGTACACTTGT SEQ ID NO: 7 CQ_3_R_v2c CTGATGGAGGAATTGTATGCTTGT SEQ ID NO: 8 CQ_3_R_v2d CTGATGGAGGACTTGTATGCTTGT SEQ ID NO: 9

The provided assays can detect less than one genomic DNA molecule per microliter of DNA, which sensitivity is imparted by high genomic copy number of the target gene, 85 copies/genome.

In some embodiments, the CocciENV assay is a real-time PCR that employs a probe and a multiplex set of forward primers and reverse primers that target part or all of the target sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1. In one embodiment, the probe is labeled with fluorescence. In another embodiment, the probe comprises a 6FAM and an MGB-NFQ label. In one embodiment the probe comprises a sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 or homologs of SEQ ID NO: 2 with at least 80%, more preferably 90%, still more preferably 91%, even more preferably 92%, still more preferably 93%, even more preferably 94%, still more preferably 95%, even more preferably 96%, still more preferably 97%, even more preferably 98%, still more preferably 99%, and most preferably 99.8% or more identity and complementarity under similar stringency. In one embodiment, the CocciENV assay as disclosed herein comprises at least one forward primer and at least one reverse primer comprising primer sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs in Table 2 or homologs of SEQ ID NOs in Table 2 with at least 80% more preferably 90%, still more preferably 91%, even more preferably 92%, still more preferably 93%, even more preferably 94%, still more preferably 95%, even more preferably 96%, still more preferably 97%, even more preferably 98%, still more preferably 99%, and most preferably 99.8% or more identity and complementarity under similar stringency.

In one embodiment of the CocciENV assay, the forward primers comprise one or more degenerative primers. In another embodiment of the CocciENV assay, the reverse primers comprise one or more degenerative primers. In yet another embodiment CocciENV assay, both the forward primers and the reverse primers comprise one or more degenerative primers. In some embodiments, the CocciENV assay may comprise more than 1 forward primer and more than 1 reverse primer. For example, the CocciENV assay may comprise two, three, four and more primers; as such, the CocciENV assay may comprise two forward primers and one reverse primer, or two forward primers and two reverse primers, or three forward primers and one reverse primer. In one embodiment, the CocciENV assay comprises a plurality of forward primers and a plurality of reverse primers represented by SEQ ID NOs: 10-38 (Table 2).

TABLE 2 CocciENV Assay Probe Name Probe Sequence 5′ to 3′ SEQ ID NO CQ_3_probe ACCCACATAGATTAGC SEQ ID NO: 2 Forward Primer Name Forward Primer Sequence 5′ to 3′ CocciEnv_F1d1 CGTTGCACRGGGAGCACCT SEQ ID NO: 10 CocciEnv_F2 AAGCTTTGGATCTTTGTGGCTCT SEQ ID NO: 11 CocciEnv_F3 AATTGATCCATTGCAAGCACCT SEQ ID NO: 12 CocciEnv_F4 AATCCAACCTTTGGAACTACACCT SEQ ID NO: 13 CocciEnv_F5 TTTTCCGGTATGGACTAGCACCT SEQ ID NO: 14 CocciEnv_F6d2 TGTTAGGTAATCYAACYAGCACCT SEQ ID NO: 15 CocciEnv_F7d2 TRTTAGGTAATYCAACTAGCACCT SEQ ID NO: 16 CocciEnv_F8d1 TGTTAGATAATCCAACYAGCACCT SEQ ID NO: 17 CocciEnv_F9d2 GKTARGTAATCCAACTAGCACCT SEQ ID NO: 18 CocciEnv_F10d2 TGTTAGGTARTCCAACTAGCAYCT SEQ ID NO: 19 CocciEnv_F11d2 TGTTAGGTAATCCAACTMGCACYT SEQ ID NO: 20 Reverse Primer Name Reverse Primer Sequence 5′ to 3′ CocciEnv_R1 GATGGAGGACTCTATATGCTTGT SEQ ID NO: 21 CocciEnv_R2 ATGGAGGACTCGTTATGCCTGT SEQ ID NO: 22 CocciEnv_R3 GGAGGACCCGTATGCTTGTGT SEQ ID NO: 23 CocciEnv_R4 TGCTAAATGATGGAGGGCTTGT SEQ ID NO: 24 CocciEnv_R5 GATGGAGGCTCGTATGCTTGT SEQ ID NO: 25 CocciEnv_R6 AAGGGGTTTGTGGTGAATCCTTA SEQ ID NO: 26 CocciEnv_R7 CAGAAAAATAGCCGTATGCTTGT SEQ ID NO: 27 CocciEnv_R8d2 TRATGGAGRACTTGTATGCTTGT SEQ ID NO: 28 CocciEnv_R9d1 TGATGGAGGACTCGTATGCYTGT SEQ ID NO: 29 CocciEnv_R10d2 TGATGGARRACTCATATGCTTGT SEQ ID NO: 30 CocciEnv_R11d2 TGATAGAGAACTTGTATRCTTRT SEQ ID NO: 31 CocciEnv_R12d2 TGATGAAGAACTTRTATRCTTGT SEQ ID NO: 32 CocciEnv_R13d2 TGATRRAGGACTTGTATGCTTGT SEQ ID NO: 33 CocciEnv_R14 TGATGGAAAACTTGTATGCTTGT SEQ ID NO: 34 CocciEnv_R15d2 TGATGGAGGACTTGTAYAYTTGT SEQ ID NO: 35 CocciEnv_R16d2 TGATGGAGGACTTGTAYGCTTRT SEQ ID NO: 36 CocciEnv_R17d2 TGATGGAGGACTYATATGCTTRT SEQ ID NO: 37 CocciEnv_R18d2 GATGGAGGACTCGTWYGCTTGT SEQ ID NO: 38

Further illustrations of various aspects of the technology are detailed below.

II. Methods for Detecting Coccidioides Using Species Specific Genomic Target Sequences

Methods that can be used to identify strain or species specific nucleic acids and alleles thereof, and biomarkers derived from transcriptional and translational products of the strain or species specific nucleic acids and the alleles thereof, include PCR, Real-Time PCR, hybridization, sequencing and any combination of the above methods. In one embodiment, the presence of the PCR or Real-Time PCR products in an assay may indicate the presence of Coccidioides species or one or more strains thereof. In one embodiment, the PCR or Real Time-PCR products may be further identified or differentiated by hybridization performed either simultaneously with or subsequently to the PCR reactions. In another embodiment, the PCR or Real-Time PCR products may be sequenced to ascertain the existence of a particular allele indicative of the identity of Coccidioides species or one or more strains thereof in a sample.

A nucleic acid may be added to a sample by any of a number of methods, including manual methods, mechanical methods, or any combination thereof. The presence of the allele may be signified by any of a number of methods, including amplification of a specific nucleic acid sequence, sequencing of a native or amplified nucleic acid, or the detection of a label either bound to or released from the nucleic acid. Addition of the nucleic acid to the sample also encompasses a sample absent of the target allele to which the nucleic acid has specificity.

Nucleic acids may be selectively and specifically amplified from a template nucleic acid contained in a sample. In some nucleic acid amplification methods, the copies are generated exponentially. Examples of nucleic acid amplification methods known in the art include: polymerase chain reaction (PCR), ligase chain reaction (LCR), self-sustained sequence replication (3 SR), nucleic acid sequence based amplification (NASBA), strand displacement amplification (SDA), amplification with Qβ replicase, whole genome amplification with enzymes such as φ29, whole genome PCR, in vitro transcription with Klenow or any other RNA polymerase, or any other method by which copies of a desired sequence are generated.

With PCR, it is possible to amplify a single copy of a specific target sequence in genomic DNA to a level detectable by several different methodologies, such as hybridization with a labeled probe; incorporation of biotinylated primers followed by avidin-enzyme conjugate detection; incorporation of ³²P-labeled deoxynucleotide triphosphates—dCTP or dATP—into the amplified segment. In addition to genomic DNA, any oligonucleotide or polynucleotide sequence can be amplified with an appropriate set of primer molecules. In particular, the amplified segments created by the PCR process itself are, themselves, efficient templates for subsequent PCR amplifications.

PCR generally involves the mixing of a nucleic acid sample, two or more primers that are designed to recognize the template DNA, a DNA polymerase, which may be a thermostable DNA polymerase such as Taq or Pfu, and deoxyribose nucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs). Reverse transcription PCR, quantitative reverse transcription PCR, and quantitative real time reverse transcription PCR are other specific examples of PCR. In general, the reaction mixture is subjected to temperature cycles comprising a denaturation stage (typically 80-100° C.), an annealing stage with a temperature that is selected based on the melting temperature (Tm) of the primers and the degeneracy of the primers, and an extension stage (for example 40-75° C.). In real-time PCR analysis, additional reagents, methods, optical detection systems, and devices known in the art are used that allow a measurement of the magnitude of fluorescence in proportion to concentration of amplified DNA. In such analyses, incorporation of fluorescent dye into the amplified strands may be detected or measured.

Alternatively, labeled probes that bind to a specific sequence during the annealing phase of the PCR may be used with primers. Labeled probes release their fluorescent tags during the extension phase so that the fluorescence level may be detected or measured. Generally, probes are complementary to a sequence within the target sequence downstream from either the upstream or downstream primer. Probes may include one or more label. A label may be any substance capable of aiding a machine, detector, sensor, device, or enhanced or unenhanced human eye from differentiating a labeled composition from an unlabeled composition. Examples of labels include but are not limited to: a radioactive isotope or chelate thereof, dye (fluorescent or nonfluorescent) stain, enzyme, or nonradioactive metal. Specific examples include, but are not limited to: fluorescein, biotin, digoxigenin, alkaline phosphatese, biotin, streptavidin, ³H, ¹⁴C, ³²P, ³⁵S, or any other compound capable of emitting radiation, rhodamine, 4-(4′-dimethylamino-phenylazo) benzoic acid (“Dabcyl”); 4-(4′-dimethylamino-phenylazo)sulfonic acid (sulfonyl chloride) (“Dabsyl”); 5-((2-aminoethyl)-amino)-naphtalene-1-sulfonic acid (“EDANS”); Psoralene derivatives, haptens, cyanines, acridines, fluorescent rhodol derivatives, cholesterol derivatives; ethylenediaminetetraaceticacid (“EDTA”) and derivatives thereof or any other compound that may be differentially detected. The label may also include one or more fluorescent dyes optimized for use in genotyping. Examples of dyes facilitating the reading of the target amplification include, but are not limited to: CAL-Fluor Red 610, CAL-Fluor Orange 560, dR110, 5-FAM, 6FAM, dR6G, JOE, HEX, VIC, TET, dTAMRA, TAMRA, NED, dROX, PET, BHQ+, Gold540, and LIZ.PCR.

Either primers or primers along with probes, as described above, will allow a quantification of the amount of specific template DNA present in the initial sample. In addition, RNA may be detected by PCR analysis by first creating a DNA template from RNA through a reverse transcriptase enzyme. In some aspects of the technology, the allele may be detected by quantitative PCR analysis facilitating genotyping analysis of the samples.

An illustrative example, using dual-labeled oligonucleotide probes in PCR reactions is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,784 to DiCesare. In the PCR step of the multiplex Real Time-PCR/PCR reaction of the present technology, the dual-labeled fluorescent oligonucleotide probe binds to the target nucleic acid between the flanking oligonucleotide primers during the annealing step of the PCR reaction. The 5′ end of the oligonucleotide probe contains the energy transfer donor fluorophore (reporter fluor) and the 3′ end contains the energy transfer acceptor fluorophore (quenching fluor). In the intact oligonucleotide probe, the 3′ quenching fluor quenches the fluorescence of the 5′ reporter fluor. However, when the oligonucleotide probe is bound to the target nucleic acid, the 5′ to 3′ exonuclease activity of the DNA polymerase, e.g., Taq DNA polymerase, will effectively digest the bound labeled oligonucleotide probe during the amplification step. Digestion of the oligonucleotide probe separates the 5′ reporter fluor from the blocking effect of the 3′ quenching fluor. The appearance of fluorescence by the reporter fluor is detected and monitored during the reaction, and the amount of detected fluorescence is proportional to the amount of fluorescent product released. Examples of apparatus suitable for detection include, e.g. Applied Biosystems™ 7900HT real-time PCR platform (Applied Biosystems, Carlsbad, Calif.) and Roche's 480 LightCycler (Roche, Basel, Switzerland), the ABI Prism 7700 sequence detector (Applied Biosystems, Carlsbad, Calif.) using 96-well reaction plates or GENEAMP PC System 9600 or 9700 (Applied Biosystems, Carlsbad, Calif.) in 9600 emulation mode followed by analysis in the ABI Prism Sequence Detector or TAQMAN LS-50B PCR Detection System (Applied Biosystems, Carlsbad, Calif.). The labeled probe facilitated multiplex Real Time-PCR/PCR can also be performed in other real-time PCR systems with multiplexing capabilities.

In some forms of PCR assays, quantification of a target in an unknown sample is often required. Such quantification is often in reference to the quantity of a control sample. Generally, the control sample contains DNA at a known concentration. The control sample DNA may be a plasmid construct comprising only one copy of the amplification region to be used as quantification reference. To calculate the quantity of a target in an unknown sample, various mathematical models are established. Calculations are based on the comparison of the distinct cycle determined by various methods, e.g., crossing points (CP) and cycle threshold values (Ct) at a constant level of fluorescence; or CP acquisition according to established mathematic algorithms.

The algorithm for Ct values in Real-Time PCR calculates the cycle at which individual PCR amplification reaches a significant threshold. The calculated Ct value is proportional to the number of target copies present in the sample, and the Ct value is a precise quantitative measurement of the copies of the target found in any sample. In other words, Ct values represent the presence of respective target that the primer sets are designed to recognize. If the target is missing in a sample, there should be no amplification in the Real Time-PCR reaction.

Alternatively, the Cp value may be utilized. A Cp value represents the cycle at which the increase of fluorescence is highest and where the logarithmic phase of a PCR begins. The LightCycler® 480 Software (Roche, Basel, Switzerland) calculates the second derivatives of entire amplification curves and determines where this value is at its maximum. By using the second-derivative algorithm, data obtained are more reliable and reproducible, even if fluorescence is relatively low.

In addition to PCR, genotyping analysis may also be performed using a probe that is capable of hybridizing to a nucleic acid sequence of interest. The term “hybridization” refers to the pairing of complementary nucleic acids. Hybridization and the strength of hybridization (i.e., the strength of the association between the nucleic acids) is impacted by such factors as the degree of complementarity between the nucleic acids, stringency of the conditions involved, the Tm of the formed hybrid, and the G:C ratio within the nucleic acids. A single molecule that contains pairing of complementary nucleic acids within its structure is said to be “self-hybridized.”

The terms “complementary” and “complementarity” refer to polynucleotides (i.e., a sequence of nucleotides) related by the base-pairing rules. For example, for the sequence “A-G-T,” is complementary to the sequence “T-C-A.” Complementarity may be “partial,” in which only some of the nucleic acids' bases are matched according to the base pairing rules. Or, there may be “complete” or “total” complementarity between the nucleic acids. The degree of complementarity between nucleic acid strands has significant effects on the efficiency and strength of hybridization between nucleic acid strands. This is of particular importance in amplification reactions, as well as detection methods that depend upon binding between nucleic acids.

The term “homology” when used in relation to nucleic acids refers to a degree of complementarity. There may be partial homology, or complete homology and thus identical. “Sequence identity” refers to a measure of relatedness between two or more nucleic acids, and is given as a percentage with reference to the total comparison length. The identity calculation takes into account those nucleotide residues that are identical and in the same relative positions in their respective larger sequences. Calculations of identity may be performed by algorithms contained within computer programs such as “GAP” (Genetics Computer Group, Madison, Wis.) and “ALIGN” (DNAStar, Madison, Wis.). A partially complementary sequence, one that at least partially inhibits (or competes with) a completely complementary sequence from hybridizing to a target nucleic acid is referred to using the functional term “substantially homologous.” The inhibition of hybridization of the completely complementary sequence to the target sequence may be examined using a hybridization assay (Southern or Northern blot, solution hybridization and the like) under conditions of low stringency. A substantially homologous sequence or probe will compete for and inhibit the binding, or hybridization, of a sequence that is completely homologous to a target under conditions of low stringency. This is not to say that conditions of low stringency are such that non-specific binding is permitted; low stringency conditions require that the binding of two sequences to one another be a specific and selective interaction. The absence of non-specific binding may be tested by the use of a second target which lacks even a partial degree of complementarity, for example, less than about 30% identity); in the absence of non-specific binding the probe will not hybridize to the second non-complementary target.

When used in reference to a double-stranded nucleic acid sequence such as a cDNA or genomic clone, the term “substantially homologous” refers to any probe which can hybridize to either or both strands of the double-stranded nucleic acid sequence under conditions of low stringency as described infra.

Low stringency conditions when used in reference to nucleic acid hybridization comprise conditions equivalent to binding or hybridization at 42° C. in a solution consisting of 5×SSPE (43.8 g/l NaCl, 6.9 g/l NaH₂PO₄.H₂O and 1.85 g/l EDTA, pH adjusted to 7.4 with NaOH), 0.1% SDS, 5×Denhardt's reagent (50×Denhardt's contains per 500 ml: 5 g Ficoll (Type 400, Pharmacia), 5 g BSA (Fraction V; Sigma)) and 100 μg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA followed by washing in a solution comprising 5×SSPE, 0.1% SDS at 42° C. when a probe of about 500 nucleotides in length is employed.

High stringency conditions when used in reference to nucleic acid hybridization comprise conditions equivalent to binding or hybridization at 42° C. in a solution consisting of 5×SSPE (43.8 g/l NaCl, 6.9 g/l NaH₂PO₄.H₂O and 1.85 g/l EDTA, pH adjusted to 7.4 with NaOH), 0.5% SDS, 5×Denhardt's reagent and 100 μg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA followed by washing in a solution comprising 0.1×SSPE, 1.0% SDS at 42° C. when a probe of about 500 nucleotides in length is employed.

It is well known that numerous equivalent conditions may be employed to comprise low stringency conditions; factors such as the length and nature (DNA, RNA, base composition) of the probe and nature of the target (DNA, RNA, base composition, present in solution or immobilized, etc.) and the concentration of the salts and other components, for example, the presence or absence of formamide, dextran sulfate, polyethylene glycol, are considered and the hybridization solution may be varied to generate conditions of low stringency hybridization different from, but equivalent to, the above listed conditions. In addition, conditions are known in the art that promote hybridization under conditions of high stringency, for example, increasing the temperature of the hybridization and/or wash steps, the use of formamide in the hybridization solution, etc.

When used in reference to a double-stranded nucleic acid sequence such as a cDNA or genomic clone, the term “substantially homologous” refers to any probe that can hybridize to either or both strands of the double-stranded nucleic acid sequence under conditions of low to high stringency as described above.

When used in reference to a single-stranded nucleic acid sequence, the term “substantially homologous” refers to any probe that can hybridize, or is the complement of, the single-stranded nucleic acid sequence under conditions of low to high stringency as described above.

The term “Tm” refers to the “melting temperature” of a nucleic acid. The melting temperature is the temperature at which a population of double-stranded nucleic acid molecules becomes half dissociated into single strands. The equation for calculating the Tm of nucleic acids is well known in the art. As indicated by standard references, a simple estimate of the Tm value may be calculated by the equation: Tm=81.5+0.41(% G+C), when a nucleic acid is in aqueous solution at 1 M NaCl (See for example, Anderson and Young, Quantitative Filter Hybridization (1985) in Nucleic Acid Hybridization). Other references include more sophisticated computations that take structural as well as sequence characteristics into account for the calculation of Tm.

As used herein the term “stringency” refers to the conditions of temperature, ionic strength, and the presence of other compounds such as organic solvents, under which nucleic acid hybridizations are conducted. With “high stringency” conditions, nucleic acid base pairing will occur only between nucleic acid fragments that have a high frequency of complementary base sequences. Thus, conditions of “low” stringency are often required with nucleic acids that are derived from organisms that are genetically diverse, as the frequency of complementary sequences is usually less.

Probes for hybridization may comprise nucleic acids, oligonucleotides (DNA or RNA), proteins, protein complexes, conjugates, natural ligands, small molecules, nanoparticles, or any combination of molecules that includes one or more of the above, or any other molecular entity capable of specific binding to any allele, whether such molecular entity exists now or is yet to be disclosed. In one aspect of the technology, the probe comprises an oligonucleotide, as described herein.

Under some circumstances, methods of detecting a gene or an allele may involve assessing their expression level through their transcriptional or translational products such as a RNA or protein molecules. The expression of a gene or an allele may be assessed by any of a number of methods used currently in the art and yet to be developed. Examples include any nucleic acid detection method, including the following non-limiting examples, microarray analysis, RNA in situ hybridization, RNAse protection assay, Northern blot. Other examples include any process of detecting expression that uses an antibody including the following non-limiting examples, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, ELISA, Western blot, Northwestern blot, and immunoaffinity chromatograpy. Antibodies may be monoclonal, polyclonal, or any antibody fragment, for example, Fab, F(ab)₂, Fv, scFv, phage display antibody, peptibody, multi-specific ligand, or any other reagent with specific binding to a target. Other methods of assessing protein expression include the following non-limiting examples: HPLC, mass spectrometry, protein microarray analysis, PAGE analysis, isoelectric focusing, 2-D gel electrophoresis, and enzymatic assays.

In some aspects of the technology, the presence of an allele may be established by binding to probes in a media or on a microarray such as a DNA chip. Examples of DNA chips include chips in which a number of single stranded oligonucleotide probes are affixed to a solid substrate such as silicon glass. Oligonucleotides with a sequence complementary to an allele are capable of specifically binding to that allele to the exclusion of alleles that differ from the specific allele by one or more nucleotides. Labeled sample DNA is hybridized to the oligonucleotides and detection of the label is correlated with binding of the sample, and consequently, the presence of the allele in the sample.

In allele-specific hybridization, oligonucleotide sequences representing all possible variations at a polymorphic site are included on a chip. The chip and sample are subjected to conditions under which the labeled sample DNA will bind only to an oligonucleotide with an exact sequence match. In allele-specific primer extension, sample DNA hybridized to the chip may be used as a synthesis template with the affixed oligonucleotide as a primer. Under this method, only the added dNTPs are labeled. Incorporation of the labeled dNTP then serves as the signal indicating the presence of the allele. The fluorescent label may be detected by any of a number of instruments configured to read at least four different fluorescent labels on a DNA chip. In another alternative, the identity of the final dNTP added to the oligonucleotide may be assessed by mass spectrometry. In this alternative, the dNTP's may, but need not be labeled with a label of known molecular weight.

A nucleic acid probe may be affixed to a substrate. Alternatively, a sample may be affixed to the substrate. A probe or sample may be covalently bound to the substrate or it may be bound by some non-covalent interaction including electrostatic, hydrophobic, hydrogen bonding, Van Der Waals, magnetic, or any other interaction by which a probe such as an oligonucleotide probe may be attached to a substrate while maintaining its ability to recognize the allele to which it has specificity. A substrate may be any solid or semi-solid material onto which a probe may be affixed, either singly or in the presence of one or more additional probes or samples as is exemplified in a microarray. Examples of substrate materials include but are not limited to polyvinyl, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyester or any other plastic, glass, silicon dioxide or other silanes, hydrogels, gold, platinum, microbeads, micelles and other lipid formations, nitrocellulose, or nylon membranes. The substrate may take any form, including a spherical bead or flat surface. For example, the probe may be bound to a substrate in the case of an array or an in situ PCR reaction. The sample may be bound to a substrate in the case of a Southern Blot.

A nucleic acid probe may include a label. A label may be any substance capable of aiding a machine, detector, sensor, device, or enhanced or unenhanced human eye from differentiating a labeled composition from an unlabeled composition. Examples of labels include, but are not limited to: a radioactive isotope or chelate thereof, dye (fluorescent or nonfluorescent) stain, enzyme, or nonradioactive metal. Specific examples include, but are not limited to: fluorescein, biotin, digoxigenin, alkaline phosphatase, biotin, streptavidin, ³H, ¹⁴C, ³²P, ³⁵S, or any other compound capable of emitting radiation, rhodamine, 4-(4′-dimethylamino-phenylazo)benzoic acid (“Dabcyl”); 4-(4′-dimethylamino-phenylazo)sulfonic acid (sulfonyl chloride) (“Dabsyl”); 5-((2-aminoethyl)-amino)-naphtalene-1-sulfonic acid (“EDANS”); Psoralene derivatives, haptens, cyanines, acridines, fluorescent rhodol derivatives, cholesterol derivatives; ethylenediaminetetraaceticacid (“EDTA”) and derivatives thereof, or any other compound that may be differentially detected. The label may also include one or more fluorescent dyes optimized for use in genotyping. Examples of such dyes include, but are not limited to: dR110, 5-FAM, 6FAM, dR6G, JOE, HEX, VIC, TET, dTAMRA, TAMRA, NED, dROX, PET, BHQ+, Gold540, and LIZ. In one embodiment, the probe comprising SEQ ID NO: 2 is labeled with 6FAM at 5′ end and MGB-NFQ at 3′ end.

Methods of detecting the presence of a gene or an allele further include, but are not limited to, any form of DNA sequencing including Sanger, next generation sequencing, pyrosequencing, sequencing by ligation, sequencing by synthesis, single molecule sequencing, pooled, and barcoded DNA sequencing or any other sequencing method now known or yet to be disclosed; or any other method that allows the detection of a particular nucleic acid sequence within a sample or enables the differentiation of one nucleic acid from another nucleic acid that differs from the first nucleic acid by one or more nucleotides, or any combination of these.

In Sanger Sequencing, a single-stranded DNA template, a primer, a DNA polymerase, nucleotides and a label such as a radioactive label conjugated with the nucleotide base or a fluorescent label conjugated to the primer, and one chain terminator base comprising a dideoxynucleotide (ddATP, ddGTP, ddCTP, or ddTTP) are added to each of four reactions (one reaction for each of the chain terminator bases). The sequence may be determined by electrophoresis of the resulting strands. In dye terminator sequencing, each of the chain termination bases is labeled with a fluorescent label of a different wavelength which allows the sequencing to be performed in a single reaction.

In pyrosequencing, the addition of a base to a single stranded template to be sequenced by a polymerase results in the release of a phyrophosphate upon nucleotide incorporation. An ATP sulfurylase enzyme converts pyrophosphate into ATP which, in turn, catalyzes the conversion of luciferin to oxyluciferin which results in the generation of visible light that is then detected by a camera.

In sequencing by ligation, such as, SOLID™ sequencing, the molecule to be sequenced is fragmented and used to prepare a population of clonal magnetic beads, in which each bead is conjugated to a plurality of copies of a single fragment with an adaptor sequence, and alternatively, a barcode sequence. The beads are bound to a glass surface. Sequencing is then performed through 2-base encoding.

In sequencing by synthesis, randomly fragmented targeted DNA is attached to a surface. The fragments are extended and bridge amplified to create a flow cell with clusters, each with a plurality of copies of a single fragment sequence. The templates are sequenced by synthesizing the fragments in parallel. Bases are indicated by the release of a fluorescent dye correlating to the addition of the particular base to the fragment.

III Kits.

Kits that facilitate methods of detecting a strain or species specific sequence may include one or more of the following reagents: specific nucleic acids such as oligonucleotides, labeling reagents, enzymes including PCR amplification reagents such as the thermostable DNA polymerases Taq or Pfu, reverse transcriptase, or one or more other polymerases, and/or reagents that facilitate hybridization. Specific nucleic acids may include nucleic acids, polynucleotides, oligonucleotides (DNA, or RNA), or any combination of molecules that includes one or more of the above, or any other molecular entity capable of specific binding to a nucleic acid marker. In one aspect of the technology, the specific nucleic acid comprises one or more oligonucleotides capable of hybridizing to the marker.

A kit may also contain an indication that links the output of the kit to a particular result. For example, an indication may be one or more sequences or that signify the identification of a particular fungal phylum, class, order, family, genus species, subspecies, strain or any other delineation of a group of fungi. An indication may include a Ct value, wherein exceeding the Ct value indicates the presence or absence of an organism of interest. A kit may contain a positive control. A kit may contain a standard curve configured to quantify the amount of fungus present in a sample. An indication includes any guide that links the output of the kit to a particular result. The indication may be a level of fluorescence or radioactive decay, a value derived from a standard curve, or from a control, or any combination of these and other outputs. The indication may be printed on a writing that may be included in the kit or it may be posted on the Internet or embedded in a software package.

EXAMPLES

Various embodiments of the present teachings can be illustrated by the following non-limiting examples. The following embodiments and examples are illustrative, and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

Example 1—Method and Material—CocciDxQ

The assay employs TaqMan MGB-6FAM fluorescent probe and a multiplex set of three forward primers and 4 reverse primers (Table 1 above). The assay reactions can be performed using Real Time PCR Mastermix of choice, but has been optimized for use with Quanta Biosciences PerfeCTa® qPCR FastMix®, UNG, ROX™. Thermocycling conditions consist of UNG activation for 3 min at 50° C. followed by 10 min Taq Polymerase activation at 95° C. and 50 PCR cycles of 15 s at 95° C. and 1 min at 60° C. Each reaction produced an amplification plot yielding a cycle-threshold (Ct) value directly proportional to the initial concentration of DNA in the reaction.

Example 2—Sensitivity and Specificity of the Cocci Quantitative Diagnosis Assay—CocciDxQ

(1) Determining Limit of Detection

The Limit of Detection (LOD), also called the Detection Limit or Lower Limit of Detection, is the lowest quantity of a substance that can be distinguished from the absence of that substance (i.e., a blank value) within a stated confidence limit. LOD is hereby used to describe the sensitivity of quantitative assays. The assay target region, a multi-copy target having the advantage of being detected at low levels in comparison to a single-copy target was utilized in the LOD test. Although the copy number of assay target region in Coccidioides isolates, including C. immitis and C. posadasii, varies, however, the average number of target copies in a Coccidioides genome is estimated at 85. Therefore, the ability of an assay in detecting the target region provides a method for relative quantification of Coccidioides fungal load.

The analytical LOD of the CocciDxQ assay is 15 target copies/ul (Table 3). This translates to less than one genome/ul. Genomic DNA was quantified and limiting serial dilutions were created to test the LOD. Dilutions were queried across the CocciDxQ assay with 20 replicates each. Finally, to establish the LOD, dilutions for which at least 19 of 20 replicates amplified were further evaluated by testing 64 replicates and exhibited at least 95% amplification (61/64 amplification ratio). Results are shown in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Determination of Limit of Detection of CocciDxQ assay: CocciDxQ Limit Dilution Amplification Amplification of Detection of Target Ratio of 20 Ratio of 64 (Target Copies/ Replicate Replicate Mean Copies/ 1 ul Screen Screen Ct 1 ul) 25 20/20 62/64 31.08 15 copies/ 15 20/20 62/64 31.72 1 μl 10 19/20 58/64 32.61 (Ct = 5 17/20 N/A 36.93 31.72, 3 14/20 N/A 37.74 Ct std. 1  6/20 N/A 37.80 dev. = 0.1  2/20 N/A 36.45 0.77) 0.01  3/20 N/A 38.08

The analytical limit of detection of the assay is 15 target copies/ul, that means if the copy number/1 μl of the genomic target in a sample is lower than 15, the CocciDxQ assay may not be sensitive enough to either reliably detect the presence or absence of the target, nor a reliable calculation of the copy number of a target DNA in the sample. However, the sensitivity of the CocciDxQ assay is imparted by high genomic copy number of the target region, an area associated with a copia-like retrotransposon, which is 85 copies/genome. That is to say that the CocciDxQ assay as disclosed herein can detect equivalent to less than one genomic DNA molecule per microliter of DNA, which is highly sensitive.

(2) Assay Specificity

To further illustrate the specificity of the CocciDxQ assay, the assay was tested against a panel of 89 diagnostic differential DNA's including differential diagnostic isolates and near neighbor or background isolates to detect any cross reactivity. All assay results were negative (see Table 4), indicating the sample species does not contain C. immitis and C. posadasii specific sequence amplifiable using the CocciDxQ assay comprising probe and primer sets in Table 1, and thus proved the assay specificity.

TABLE 4 List of DNA that the CocciDxQ Assay was screened across. Human gDNA Streptococcus pneumoniae Burkholderia pseudomallei Staphylococcus capitis Streptococcus lactis Mycoplasma pneumoniae Streptococcus oralis Enterobacter cloacae Haemophilus Influenzae Streptococcus mitis Acinetobacter baumanni Streptococcus salivarius Streptococcus thermophilus Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Streptococcus anginosus Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus Streptococcus mutans Micrococcus sp Staphylococcus arlettae Chryseobacterium indologenes Staphylococcus chonii Klebsiella oxytoca Staphylococcus equorum Enterococcus faecalis Staphylococcus gallinarum Haemophilus parainfluenzae Staphylococcus hominis Achromobacter xylosoxidans Staphylococcus kloosii Staphylococcus xylosus Staphylococcus lugdunensis Klebsiella pneumoniae Streptococcus gordonii Moraxella catarrhalis Streptococcus equi Staphylococcus epidermidis Streptococcus uberis Staphylococcus haemolyticus Providencia stuartii Streptococcus pyogenes Corynebacterium jeikeium Acremonium strictum Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Bacillus anthracis Fusobacterium nucleatum Brucella abortus Corynebacterium diphtheriae Candida famata Porphyromonas gingivalis Candida haemulonii Cryptococcus neoformans Candida lusitaniae Mycobacterium avium Chaetomium globosum Aspergillus niger Eschericha coli Penicillium marneffei Francisella tularensis Eikenella corrodens Fusarium solani Enterobacter aerogenes Geotrichum candidum Staphylococcus saprophyticus Histoplasma capsulatum Pseudomonas aeruginosa Legionella pneumophila Neisseria meningitidis Listeria monocytogenes Entercoccus faecium Paecilomyces variotii Neisseria gonorrhoeae Pichia ohmeri Burkholderia cepacia Rhizopus oryzae Bordetella bronchiseptica Salmonella typhimurium Candida albicans Sporothrix schenckii Bacteroides fragilis Trichosporon asteroides Bacteroides uniformis Trichosporon faecale Streptococcus agalactiae Trichosporon ovoides Candida glabrata Uncinocarpus reesi Candida parapsilosis Burkholderia ubonensis Candida tropicalis

The CocciDxQ assay was further screened across samples containing Coccidioides spp. using DNA extracts or whole genome amplifications of DNA extracts, and the assay detected Coccidioides spp. in 559 out of a total number of 560 samples.

Example 3—CocciDxQ Assay for Clinical Specimen

Clinical specimen suspected having Coccidioides spp. were tested with the CocciDxQ assay. DNA was extracted from specimens which were blood, sputum, saliva, urine, or sputum-LSA. The test results provided in Table 5 show that sputum samples provide template (e.g., DNA) suitable for the CocciDxQ assay.

TABLE 5 CocciDxQ test using DNA of clinical samples Amplification rate Specimen Type (# of samples tested) Mean Ct Blood 0 (13) n/a Sputum 1 (6) 37.2 Saliva 0 (14) n/a Urine 0 (13) n/a Sputum-LSA 16 (25) 27.5

DNA and RNA extracted from pleural fluid specimens were also tested using the CocciDxQ assay. The Real-Time PCR results are shown in Table 6.

TABLE 6 CocciDxQ assay for clinical pleural fluid specimens Sample CocciDxQ Ct on DNA CocciDxQ Ct on RNA 3838H Neg 38.0 0681J Neg 37.1 8056G Neg Neg 7477G Neg Neg 9294H 35.1 37.6 9496G Neg Neg 5308G Neg Neg Neg = negative for target

The results from Table 6 illustrate that RNA can also be used as an assay target/template, in addition to DNA, if a reverse transcription step is used to generate cDNA. Further, Coccidioides was detected in several samples that had negative detection results in DNA. Thus, these results could demonstrate that RNA detection of Coccidioides can be used in addition to, or in place of DNA-based detection of Coccidioides.

Another set of clinical specimen were tested with the CocciDxQ assay using both DNA and RNA from each specimen, and the results are provided in Table 7:

TABLE 7 CocciDxQ assay for clinical specimen DNA RNA Comparison Comparison Comparison real-time Control real-time real-time assays to real-time assays to assays to ITS PCR ITS ITS Sample Name CDxQ CQ34 CQBD 16S ALU CDxQ CQ34 CQBD 16S ALU TG004-2_saliva Neg Neg Neg 30.7 NR Neg Neg Neg 21.0 25.4 TG006_saliva Neg Neg Neg 31.5 19.6 Neg Neg Neg 26.2 22.3 TG006-2_saliva Neg Neg Neg 28.7 20.7 Neg Neg Neg 25.9 23.7 TG009_saliva Neg Neg Neg 29.9 17.6 Neg Neg Neg 22.2 20.0 TG009-2_saliva Neg Neg Neg 26.1 20.5 Neg 38.6 Neg 24.4  7.3 TG010_saliva Neg Neg Neg 31.3 21.0 Neg Neg Neg 23.7 20.1 TG010-2_saliva Neg Neg Neg 32.1 21.0 Neg Neg Neg 27.1 18.8 TG010-2_sputum Neg Neg Neg 32.1 NR Neg Neg Neg 31.6 16.1 TG011_sputum Neg Neg Neg 24.4 NR Neg Neg Neg 25.0 18.4 TG012_saliva Neg Neg Neg 31.7 21.6 Neg Neg Neg 29.2 24.7 TG012-2_saliva Neg Neg Neg 31.8 17.3 Neg Neg Neg 28.7 19.6 TG012-2_sputum Neg Neg Neg 28.7 NR Neg Neg Neg Neg 31.7 TG012-3_saliva Neg Neg Neg 31.8 20.3 Neg Neg Neg 27.6 21.2 TG013_sputum 38.2 37.7 Neg 30.8 26.4 27.8 25.3 Neg 28.3 19.0 TG013_saliva Neg Neg Neg 24.4 NR Neg Neg Neg 24.8 19.0 TG013_sputum Neg Neg Neg 24.4 NR 36.9 35.1 Neg 16.2 12.9 TG014_saliva Neg Neg Neg 31.9 NR Neg Neg Neg 27.9 34.4 TG015_saliva Neg Neg Neg 30.8 21.0 Neg Neg Neg 25.3 21.6 TG015-2_sputum Neg Neg Neg 23.7 NR Neg Neg Neg 21.5 24.8 TG016_sputum Neg Neg Neg 21.6 NR Neg Neg Neg 16.4 12.8 PC (DNA only) 17.3 20.9 20.4 9.9 NR NR NR NR NR NR

Example 4—CocciENV

With the discovery of new alleles of SEQ ID NO: 1 (i.e., the target sequence of CocciDxQ and CocciENV), additional oligonucleotides (SEQ ID NOs: 10-38) were generated to bind to and amplify some or all of the known alleles of SEQ ID NO: 1. In brief, Ccpy numbers of the target sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1) in Coccidioides genomes were estimated bioinformatically using whole genome sequence with this updated information. Using the Taqman probe sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2), each genome was queried via BLAST for hits with 100% identity and 100% coverage. For each hit, the probe and flanking sequence were extracted and aligned to confirm the region's homology to the assay target (SEQ ID NO: 1).

The CocciENV assay is configured to be run as a real-time PCR reaction using substantially similar conditions as recited above for the CocciDxQ assay, but with modifications as to the oligonucleotide content. In short, the CocciENV assay uses the same probe (SEQ ID NO: 2), but replaces the CocciDxQ forward and reverse primers (SEQ ID NOs: 3-9) with the forward and reverse primers detailed in Table 2 (SEQ ID NOs: 10-38).

The CocciEnv assay was subject to concise validation, given the extensive validation of CocciDxQ (described above), but included sensitivity and specificity screening across a subset of the target molecules mentioned above, and added DNA from four additional Onygenales species that are more phylogenetically closely related to Coccidioides spp: Amauroascus mutatus, A. niger, Byssoonygena ceratinophila, and Chrysosporium queenslandicum.

Example 5—CocciENV Development and Validation

A. Methods

With the recent database deposition of new Coccidioides genome sequences, we hypothesized that more variant alleles of the CocciDxQ target would be available, and that we could add primers to the original assay to capture more variants of the target, thus increasing the sensitivity of the assay. Using a local BLAST database of all available Coccidioides genomes and the CocciDxQ Taqman probe sequence as a query, each genome was queried for hits with 100% identity and 100% coverage. For each hit, the probe and flanking sequence were extracted using an in-house script and aligned to confirm the region's identity to the assay target. We designed several new primers to increase the number of alleles of the target captured by the assay, and refer to the enhanced assay as CocciEnv. The new assay was run using the same conditions as for CocciDxQ, with only primer concentrations modified (Table 8).

TABLE 8 Assay SEQ ID Final concentration component Sequence NO: in PCR (uM) CDx_F1d1 CGTTGCACRGGGAGCACCT 10 0.375 CDx_F2 AAGCTTTGGATCTTTGTGGCTCT 11 0.375 CDx_F3 AATTGATCCATTGCAAGCACCT 12 0.25 CDx_F4 AATCCAACCTTTGGAACTACACCT 13 0.25 CDx_F5 TTTTCCGGTATGGACTAGCACCT 14 0.375 CDx_F6d2 TGTTAGGTAATCYAACYAGCACCT 15 0.125 CDx_F7d2 TRTTAGGTAATYCAACTAGCACCT 16 0.125 CDx_F8d1 TGTTAGATAATCCAACYAGCACCT 17 0.125 CDx_F9d2 GKTARGTAATCCAACTAGCACCT 18 0.125 CDx_F10d2 TGTTAGGTARTCCAACTAGCAYCT 19 0.125 CDx_F11d2 TGTTAGGTAATCCAACTMGCACYT 20 0.125 CDx_R1 GATGGAGGACTCTATATGCTTGT 21 0.375 CDx_R2 ATGGAGGACTCGTTATGCCTGT 22 0.375 CDx_R3 GGAGGACCCGTATGCTTGTGT 23 0.375 CDx_R4 TGCTAAATGATGGAGGGCTTGT 24 0.375 CDx_R5 GATGGAGGCTCGTATGCTTGT 25 0.375 CDx_R6 AAGGGGTTTGTGGTGAATCCTTA 26 0.375 CDx_R7 CAGAAAAATAGCCGTATGCTTGT 27 0.375 CDx_R8d2 TRATGGAGRACTTGTATGCTTGT 28 0.125 CDx_R9d1 TGATGGAGGACTCGTATGCYTGT 29 0.125 CDx_R10d2 TGATGGARRACTCATATGCTTGT 30 0.125 CDx_R11d2 TGATAGAGAACTTGTATRCTTRT 31 0.125 CDx_R12d2 TGATGAAGAACTTRTATRCTTGT 32 0.125 CDx_R13d2 TGATRRAGGACTTGTATGCTTGT 33 0.125 CDx_R14 TGATGGAAAACTTGTATGCTTGT 34 0.125 CDx_R15d2 TGATGGAGGACTTGTAYAYTTGT 35 0.125 CDx_R16d2 TGATGGAGGACTTGTAYGCTTRT 36 0.125 CDx_R17d2 TGATGGAGGACTYATATGCTTRT 37 0.125 CDx_R18d2 GATGGAGGACTCGTWYGCTTGT 38 0.125 CDx_FMGB 6FAM-ACCCACATAGATTAGC-MGBNFQ 2 0.25

CocciEnv was subject to a more concise validation than described above, given the extensive validation of CocciDxQ, but included sensitivity and specificity screening across a subset of the DNAs used for CocciDxQ validation (n=94 Coccidioides WGA DNAs, n=89 non-target DNAs Table 9), along with DNA from four additional Onygenales species: Amauroascus mutatus ATCC® 90275, A. niger ATCC® 22339, Byssoonygena ceratinophila ATCC® 64724, and Chrysosporium queenslandicum ATCC® 4404. Additionally, CocciDxQ and CocciEnv were compared side-by-side by screening DNAs from 23 Coccidioides isolates.

B. Results

The CocciDxQ assay was positive on the whole-genome-amplified DNA of all 556 unique isolates of Coccidioides (Table 10), and was negative on all DNA from various species (Table 9) including the four Onygenales family members, illustrating 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity. The abbreviated validation showed that CocciEnv also demonstrated 100% sensitivity and specificity.

TABLE 9 Isolate gDNAs screened to confirm specificity of CocciDxQ and CocciEnv assays. Species ID Strain ID Human Streptococcus lactis 22c Streptococcus oralis 22d Haemophilus Influenzae PU5-052 Acinetobacter baumanni ACBA-3 Streptococcus thermophilus BAA-250 Streptococcus anginosus 33397 Streptococcus mutans 700610 Staphylococcus arlettae 43957 Staphylococcus chonii 29974 Staphylococcus equorum 43958 Staphylococcus gallinarum 35539 Staphylococcus hominis 27844 Staphylococcus kloosii 43959 Staphylococcus lugdunensis 43809 Streptococcus gordonii 10558 Streptococcus equi 9528 Streptococcus uberis 700407 Providencia stuartii PROV-1 Corynebacterium jeikeium jk grp COJE-1 Stenotrophomonas maltophilia STMA-10 Fusobacterium nucleatum ATCC25586D-5 Corynebacterium diphtheriae  ATCC700971D-5 Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC33277D-5 Cryptococcus neoformans  ATCC208821D-2 Mycobacterium avium BAA-968D-5 Aspergillus niger 1015D-2 Penicillium marneffei 18224-D2 Eikenella corrodens 51724D Enterobacter aerogenes 15038D-5 Pseudomonas aeruginosa PSAR-64 Neisseria meningitidis CRS8-001 Entercoccus faecium VRE-33 Neisseria gonorrhoeae CRS6-374 Burkholderia cepacia ATCC 25608 Bordetella bronchiseptica ATCC 10580 Candida albicans ATCC 14053 Bacteroides fragilis ATCC 25285 Bacteroides uniformis ATCC 8492  Streptococcus agalactiae CRS4-147 Candida glabrata YT-48 Candida parapsilosis YT-49 Candida tropicalis YT-50 Streptococcus pneumoniae STPN-187 Staphylococcus capitis CNS-125 Mycoplasma pneumoniae 15531 Enterobacter cloacae CRS4-429 Streptococcus mitis STMI-1 Streptococcus salivarius SSAL-1 Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA-653 Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus MSSA-309 Micrococcus sp MIC-3 Chryseobacterium indologenes CHIN-8 Klebsiella oxytoca KOXY-142 Enterococcus faecalis EFA-115 Haemophilus parainfluenzae HPAR-304 Achromobacter xylosoxidans ACXY-2 Staphylococcus xylosus ATCC-35033 Klebsiella pneumoniae SP-1237, KLPN-143 Moraxella catarrhalis MCAT-108 Staphylococcus epidermidis HIP04645 Staphylococcus haemolyticus N/A Streptococcus pyogenes GAS-143 Coccidioides posadasii 3224 Coccidioides posadasii 3231 Acremonium strictum Candida famata Candida haemulonii Candida lusitaniae Chaetomium globosum Coccidioides immitis Eschericha coli 0157:H7 ATCC35150 Francisella tularensis LVS Fusarium solani Geotrichum candidum Histoplasma capsulatum Legionella pneumophila ATCC 33152 Listeria monocytogenes H2446 Paecilomyces variotii Pichia ohmeri Rhizopus oryzae Salmonella typhimurium LT1 Sporothrix schenckii Trichosporon asteroides Trichosporon faecale Trichosporon ovoides Uncinocarpus reesi Yersinia pestis FV-1 Burkholderia ubonensis NCTC13147 Amauroascus mutatus Amauroascus niger Byssoonygena ceratinophila Chrysosporium queenslandicum

TABLE 10 Isolate gDNA (whole genome amplified) screened with CocciDxQ assay. A subset of these samples (n = 94) was screened with CocciEnv assay. For origin, C = clinical and E = environmental. Isolation/Disease TGC ID# Species ID Strain ID RMSCC#/Alternate ID Information Source Origin TGC0001 C. posadasii 8178 ID05- 2440008178, KJK004 Bronchial wash C TGC0002 C. posadasii 8533 ID05- 2560008533, KJC010 Bronchial wash C TGC0003 C. posadasii 8589 ID05- 2570008589, KJB010 Tissue, left cheek C TGC0004 C. posadasii 63029 bronch wash TGC0005 C. posadasii 8700 ID05- 2620008700, KJA011 Ankle tissue C TGC0006 C. posadasii 8835 ID05- 2650008835, KJA012e Bronchial wash C TGC0008 C. posadasii 63394 R. lung wash TGC0009 C. posadasii 8885 ID05- 2690008885, KJK008f Blood C TGC0010 C. posadasii 8860 Unknown TGC0011 C. posadasii 8973 ID05- 2700008973, KJA014g Bone marrow C TGC0012 C. posadasii 9001 ID05- 2710009001, KJB011 Sputum C TGC0013 C. posadasii 9120 ID05-2760009120 Blood C TGC0015 C. posadasii 63363 bronch wash TGC0016 C. posadasii 63360 bronch wash TGC0017 C. posadasii 63078 wash/aspirate TGC0018 C. posadasii 10512 bronch wash TGC0019 C. posadasii 10569 sputum TGC0020 C. posadasii 10816 CSF TGC0021 C. posadasii 10995 bronch wash TGC0022 C. posadasii 10997 sputum TGC0023 C. posadasii 11166 LUL BAL TGC0024 C. posadasii 11206 tissue TGC0025 C. posadasii 969 ID05- 0340000969, KJE001 Bronchial wash C TGC0026 C. posadasii 152 aspirate TGC0027 C. posadasii 150 sputum TGC0028 Unknown 151 swab TGC0029 C. posadasii 3718 RML wash TGC0030 C. posadasii 3601 BAL RLL TGC0031 C. posadasii 94 body fluid TGC0032 C. immitis 3698 RMSCC 3698 ~ ~ TGC0033 C. posadasii 15 sputum TGC0034 C. posadasii 11224 sputum TGC0035 C. posadasii 11226 sputum TGC0036 C. posadasii 11223 bronch wash TGC0037 C. posadasii 3632 right lung nodule TGC0038 C. posadasii 416 ID05- 0180000416, KJD001 Bronchial wash C TGC0039 C. posadasii 678 ID05- 0250000678, KJC002 Bronchial wash C TGC0040 C. posadasii 295 ID05- 0120000295, KJC001 Elbow fluid C TGC0041 C. posadasii 3621 sputum TGC0042 C. posadasii 276 ID05-0110000276 Knee fluid C TGC0043 C. posadasii 153 tissue TGC0044 C. posadasii 2928 ID05- 0750002928, KJA003 Bronchial wash C TGC0045 C. posadasii 3402 ID05- 08200003402, KJF002 Elbow tissue C TGC0046 Unknown 1628 sputum TGC0047 C. posadasii 2870 ID05- 0740002870, KJA002 Bronchial wash C TGC0048 C. posadasii 1246 ID05- 0420001246, KJC003 Bronchial wash C TGC0049 C. posadasii 10996 bronch wash TGC0050 C. posadasii 62461 Leukens Trap (?) TGC0051 C. posadasii 93 Unknown TGC0052 C. posadasii 61107 wash/aspirate TGC0053 C. posadasii 61833 Unknown TGC0054 C. posadasii 5521 BAL RLL TGC0055 C. posadasii 06-920  RLLL tissue TGC0056 C. posadasii 11492 neck mass TGC0057 C. posadasii 5804 ID05- 1650005804, KJA008 Bronchial wash C TGC0058 C. posadasii 62248 RUL wash TGC0059 Unknown 3761 bronch wash TGC0060 C. posadasii 06-1110 unknown TGC0061 C. posadasii 4171 ID05- 1100004171, KJB004 Bronchial wash C TGC0062 C. posadasii 61961 sacral mass TGC0063 C. posadasii 62165 lung tissue TGC0064 C. posadasii 4916 ID05- 13300004916, Bronchial wash C KJE002b TGC0065 Unknown 2219 CSF TGC0066 C. posadasii 2454 L arm node TGC0067 C. posadasii 3399 paratracheal node TGC0068 C. posadasii 3359 f0702 Pleural fluid C TGC0069 Unknown 61312 CSF TGC0070 C. posadasii 62962 bronch RML TGC0071 C. posadasii 62987 bronch wash TGC0072 C. posadasii 62868 bronch wash TGC0073 C. posadasii 61948 bronch wash TGC0074 C. posadasii 62882 lung fluid TGC0075 C. posadasii 11414 bronch wash TGC0076 C. posadasii 61109 unknown swab TGC0077 C. posadasii 61855 lung-right TGC0078 C. posadasii 61812 BAL TGC0079 C. posadasii 61859 bronch wash TGC0080 C. posadasii 61414 unknown TGC0081 C. posadasii 5523 ID05- 1540005523, KJB007c Bronchial wash C TGC0082 C. posadasii 5579 ID05- 1570005579, KJA007 Bronchial wash C TGC0083 C. posadasii 6961 bronch wash TGC0084 C. posadasii 6840 BAL TGC0085 C. posadasii 62215 bronch wash TGC0086 C. posadasii 62628 bronch wash TGC0087 C. posadasii 1024 ID05- 0380001024, KJF001 Knee Fluid C TGC0088 C. posadasii 3453 Trans trachea C TGC0089 C. posadasii 1130 ID05- 0400001130, KJD002 Knee Fluid C TGC0090 C. posadasii 1298 ID05- 04200001298, KJB003 Bronchial wash C TGC0091 C. posadasii 3833 ID05-0970003833, KJA004 Bronchial wash C TGC0092 C. posadasii 3614 ID05- 0890003614, KJC004 Lung Tissue C TGC0093 C. posadasii 4000 ID05-1030004000, KJC005 Lung Tissue C TGC0094 C. posadasii 3656 lung tissue TGC0095 C. posadasii 4038 ID05- 10500004038, KJD003 Chin Abscess C TGC0096 C. posadasii 7835 ID05- 2310007835, KJA010 Bronchial wash C TGC0097 C. posadasii 4273 ID05- 1150004273, KJC006 Lung Tissue C TGC0098 C. posadasii 4581 ID05- 1240004581, KJB005c Bronchial wash C TGC0099 C. posadasii 4644 ID05- 1260004644, KJK002a Systemic; urogenital C TGC0100 C. posadasii 4645 body fluid TGC0102 C. posadasii 4947 ID05-1360004947, KJA005 Sputum C TGC0103 C. posadasii 4948 ID05-1360004948, KJA006 Human C TGC0104 C. posadasii 5003 ID05- 1370005003, KJM002 Sputum C TGC0105 C. posadasii 5032 ID05-1380005032 Human C TGC0106 C. posadasii 5354 ID05- 1470005354, KJF003 Sputum C TGC0107 Unknown 11227 bronch wash TGC0108 C. posadasii 11276 scalp mass TGC0109 C. posadasii 11309 bronch wash TGC0110 Unknown 11311 bronch wash TGC0111 C. posadasii 11318 sputum TGC0112 C. posadasii 11337 thorocentesis TGC0113 C. posadasii 11436 RUL fluid TGC0114 C. posadasii 11461 bronch wash TGC0115 C. posadasii 11467 leukens trap (?) TGC0116 C. posadasii 11482 sputum TGC0117 Unknown 11524 BAL TGC0118 C. posadasii 11491 back wound TGC0119 C. posadasii 11610 bronch wash TGC0120 C. posadasii 11615 sputum TGC0121 C. posadasii 11625 BAL RML TGC0122 C. posadasii 11676 lymph node TGC0123 C. posadasii 11723 bronch wash TGC0124 C. posadasii B16  BT05- 0810000016, KJG002 Pulmonary C TGC0125 C. posadasii BT17 BT05- 0810000017, KJG003 Wound C TGC0126 C. posadasii BT18 BT05- 0810000018, KJG004 Wound C TGC0127 C. posadasii BT19 BT05- 0810000019, KJG005 Pulmonary C TGC0128 Unknown 378 lung tissue TGC0129 Unknown 559 unknown TGC0130 C. posadasii 632 unknown TGC0131 C. posadasii 633 unknown TGC0132 C. posadasii 713 sputum TGC0133 C. posadasii 745 unknown TGC0134 C. posadasii 1155 BAL TGC0135 C. immitis 2010 Human C TGC0136 C. immitis 2012 RMSCC 2012 Human C TGC0137 C. posadasii 3131 RMSCC 1038, f0634 Lung C TGC0138 C. posadasii 1042 RMSCC 1042 ~ ~ TGC0139 C. immitis 2017 RMSCC 2017 Human C TGC0140 C. posadasii 3142 RMSCC 1049, f0925 Cerebral spinal fluid C TGC0141 C. immitis 2271 RMSCC 2271 Human C TGC0142 C. posadasii 3137 RMSCC 1054 Urine, CSF C TGC0143 C. immitis 3505 RMSCC 3505 Human C TGC0144 C. posadasii 3101 RMSCC 1439, f1053 Sputum C TGC0145 C. posadasii 113 lymph node TGC0146 Unknown 561 unknown TGC0147 C. posadasii 114 RL Bx TGC0148 C. posadasii 211 sputum TGC0149 C. posadasii 223 RUL mass TGC0150 C. posadasii 660 LL mass TGC0151 C. posadasii 5783 lung mass TGC0152 C. posadasii 3570 bronch wash TGC0153 C. posadasii 6452 ID05- 1860006452, KJH004d Sputum C TGC0154 C. posadasii 6453 ID05- 1860006453, KJH005d Bronchial wash C TGC0155 C. posadasii 6472 ID05- 1870006472, KJA009 Bronchial wash C TGC0156 C. posadasii 6826 ID05- 1990006826, KJE003 Bronchial wash C TGC0157 C. posadasii 6831 ID05- 1990006831, KJD004 Testicular Abscess C TGC0158 C. posadasii 6994 ID05- 2030006994, KJB008 Pleural fluid C TGC0159 C. posadasii 7471 ID05-2200007471 Lung tissue C TGC0160 C. posadasii 7527 ID05- 2210007527, KJC009 Pulmonary C TGC0173 C. posadasii ID05-10154 TGC0174 Unknown PT523004/ PT323004 TGC0175 C. posadasii PT318013  TGC0176 C. posadasii PT07291021 TGC0177 C. posadasii PT07290023 TGC0178 C. posadasii PT320028  TGC0179 C. posadasii PT299001  TGC0180 Unknown PT07288010 TGC0181 C. posadasii PT299006  TGC0182 Unknown PT305012  TGC0183 C. posadasii PT305013  TGC0184 Unknown PT07292005 TGC0185 Unknown PT312004  TGC0186 Unknown PT296022  TGC0187 Unknown PT07292004 TGC0188 Unknown PT07250001 TGC0189 C. posadasii PT07269001 TGC0190 C. posadasii PT07270023 TGC0191 C. posadasii PT07276015 TGC0192 Unknown PT298017/ PT268017 TGC0193 Unknown PT07250037/ PT07250032 TGC0194 Unknown PT324006  TGC0195 C. posadasii PT296001  TGC0196 C. posadasii PT07254016 TGC0197 C. posadasii PT07268016 TGC0198 Unknown PT07260017 TGC0199 C. posadasii PT07291022 TGC0200 Unknown PT07290022 TGC0201 C. posadasii PT295029  TGC0202 C. posadasii PT268018  TGC0203 C. posadasii PT309005  TGC0204 Unknown PT305014  TGC0205 C. posadasii PT07278010 TGC0206 Unknown PT305010  TGC0207 Unknown PT309003  TGC0208 C. posadasii PT303019  TGC0209 C. posadasii PT305011  TGC0210 C. posadasii PT306003  TGC0211 C. posadasii 3196 f1202 Shoulder C TGC0212 C. posadasii 3215 f1132 Skin biopsy C TGC0213 C. immitis 3377 RMSCC 3377 Human C TGC0214 C. posadasii VFC040 F0777 Lung tissue C TGC0216 C. immitis 3476 TGC0217 C. posadasii 3351 f0675 Blood C TGC0218 C. posadasii 3177 f1281 Bronchoalveolar C lavage TGC0219 C. posadasii 3251 f0961 Lung C TGC0220 C. posadasii 3322 f1002 Elbow abcess fluid C TGC0221 C. posadasii 3315 f0940 Lung C TGC0222 C. posadasii 3232 f1244 Sputum C TGC0223 C. posadasii VFC013 FF512 Sputum C TGC0224 C. posadasii 3474 f0106 Lung lesion C TGC0226 C. posadasii 3250 f0960 Blood C TGC0227 C. posadasii 3312 RMSCC 3312 ~ ~ TGC0228 C. posadasii 3492 f0813 Bronch trans C TGC0229 C. posadasii 3311 RMSCC 3311 ~ ~ TGC0230 C. posadasii 3278 f1070 Sputum C TGC0231 C. posadasii 3317 f0944 Blood C TGC0232 C. posadasii 3248 f0953 TGH mold iso C TGC0233 C. posadasii 3247 Human C TGC0234 C. posadasii 3268 f1037 Blood C TGC0235 C. posadasii 3262 f1020 Bronchoalveolar C lavage TGC0236 C. posadasii 3275 f1066 Lung C TGC0237 C. posadasii 3234 f1258 Bronchoalveolar C lavage TGC0238 C. posadasii 3319 f0994 Bronchoalveolar C lavage TGC0239 C. posadasii 3240 f1265 Sputum C TGC0240 C. posadasii 3299 f0875 Sputum C TGC0241 C. posadasii 3256 f0982 Bronchoalveolar C lavage TGC0242 C. posadasii 3236 Human C TGC0243 C. posadasii 3272 f1049 Lung C TGC0244 C. posadasii 3273 f1062 Sputum C TGC0245 C. posadasii 3239 f1264 Sputum C TGC0246 C. posadasii 3318 f0988 Human C TGC0247 C. posadasii 3286 TGC0248 C. posadasii 3230 f1242 Sputum C TGC0249 C. posadasii 10 30000010 Urine C TGC0250 C. posadasii 3231 Human C TGC0251 C. posadasii 3237 f1262 Sputum C TGC0252 C. posadasii 3305 f0903 Lung aspirate C TGC0253 C. posadasii 3289 f0830 Sputum C TGC0254 C. posadasii 3221 Human C TGC0255 C. posadasii 3294 TGC0256 C. posadasii 3284 f0754 Sputum C TGC0257 C. posadasii 3223 Human C TGC0258 C. immitis 2281 RMSCC 2281 ~ ~ TGC0259 C. posadasii 3300 f0876 Lung aspirate C TGC0260 C. posadasii 3482 f0163 Brain C TGC0261 C. posadasii 3238 f1263 Pleural fluid C TGC0262 C. posadasii 3263 f1021 Lung mold bronch C TGC0263 C. posadasii 3224 f1090 Bronchial wash C TGC0264 C. posadasii 3253 f0969 Lung nodule C TGC0265 C. posadasii 3211 f1142 Blood C TGC0266 C. posadasii 3285 TGC0267 C. posadasii 3214 f1134 Lymph node C TGC0268 C. posadasii 3308 f0915 Human C TGC0269 C. posadasii 3252 f0964 TGH C TGC0270 C. posadasii 3293 f0848 Tracheal aspirate C TGC0271 C. posadasii 3245 f1274 Bronchoalveolar C lavage TGC0272 C. posadasii 3213 f1141 Sputum C TGC0273 C. posadasii 3226 Human C TGC0274 C. posadasii 3298 f0874 Sputum C TGC0275 C. posadasii 3219 f1116 Bronchial wash C TGC0276 C. posadasii 3216 f1130 Bronchial C TGC0277 C. posadasii 3246 f1275 Human C TGC0278 C. posadasii 3295 Human C TGC0279 C. posadasii 3227 f1239 Sputum C TGC0280 C. posadasii 3277 Human C TGC0281 C. posadasii 3217 f1124 Sputum C TGC0282 C. posadasii 3269 f1040 Arm C TGC0283 C. posadasii 3279 f1071 Sputum C TGC0284 C. posadasii 3169 f1294 Sputum C TGC0285 C. posadasii VFC014 FF532 Lymph node C TGC0286 C. posadasii 3165 f1306 Face lesion C TGC0287 C. posadasii 3192 f1215 Sputum C TGC0288 C. posadasii 3205 f1170 Bronchoalveolar C lavage TGC0289 C. posadasii 3207 f1159 Lung aspirate C TGC0290 C. posadasii VFC010 FF180 Sputum C TGC0291 C. posadasii VFC007 FF877 Human C TGC0292 C. posadasii 3356 f0691 Bronchial wash C TGC0293 C. immitis 2267 RMSCC 2267 ~ ~ [VFC 052 2267] TGC0294 C. posadasii VFC008 FF861 Sputum C TGC0295 C. posadasii VFC005 FF795 Sputum C TGC0296 C. posadasii VFC024 FF625 Forearm fluid C TGC0297 C. posadasii VFC022 FF690 Sputum C TGC0298 C. posadasii 3132 f1038 Bronchoalveolar C lavage TGC0299 C. posadasii VFC019 FF616 Human C TGC0300 C. posadasii 3199 f1193 Pleural tissue C TGC0301 C. posadasii 3209 f1153 Pleural fluid C TGC0302 C. posadasii 3203 Human C TGC0303 C. posadasii 3357 f0697 Sputum C TGC0304 C. posadasii 3167 f1285 Sputum C TGC0305 C. posadasii 3162 f1300 Knee fluid C TGC0306 C. posadasii 3202 f1185 Bronchus C TGC0307 C. posadasii VFC006 FF826 Bronchial wash C TGC0308 C. posadasii 3121 f0987 Lung Aspirate C TGC0309 C. immitis 3706 RMSCC 3706 Human C TGC0310 C. posadasii VFC036 FF538 Lung C TGC0311 C. posadasii VFC047 97-300-0319 Cerebral spinal fluid C TGC0312 C. posadasii VFC009 FF83 Sputum C TGC0313 C. posadasii 3183 f1234 Lung C TGC0314 C. posadasii VFC029 FF167 Abdominal wall C tissue TGC0315 C. immitis 3475 RMSCC 3475 ~ ~ TGC0316 C. posadasii 3190 f1219 Blood C TGC0317 C. posadasii VFC011 FF379 Lung aspirate C TGC0318 C. posadasii 3208 f1158 Sputum C TGC0319 C. immitis 2008 RMSCC 2008, VFC043 Human C [VFC 043 2008] TGC0320 C. posadasii VFC030 FF340 FNA lung C TGC0321 C. immitis 2395 RMSCC 2395 Human C TGC0322 C. posadasii VFC012 FF449 Lung C TGC0323 C. posadasii VFC033 FF387 Sputum C TGC0324 C. posadasii VFC032 FF368 Sputum C TGC0325 C. posadasii 3355 f0688 Bronchial wash C TGC0326 C. posadasii VFC021/VFC02 CAPD fluid C 18 TGC0327 C. posadasii 3163 f1302 Sputum C TGC0328 C. posadasii 3346 f0656 Lung tissue C TGC0329 C. posadasii 3333 f0562 Neck drainage C TGC0330 C. posadasii VFC037 FF612 Sputum C TGC0331 C. posadasii 3193 f1210 Blood C TGC0332 C. posadasii VFC034 FF455 Sputum C TGC0333 C. posadasii VFC031 FF361 Sputum C TGC0334 C. posadasii VFC028 FF170 Sputum C TGC0335 C. posadasii VFC017 FF551 Sputum C TGC0336 C. posadasii 3174 f1277 Sputum C TGC0337 C. posadasii VFC016 FF555 Bronchial aveolar C lavage TGC0338 C. posadasii VFC025 FF715 Sputum C TGC0339 C. posadasii 3187 f1223 Urine C TGC0340 C. posadasii 3491 f1257 Human C TGC0341 C. posadasii 3457 f0193 Skin C TGC0342 C. immitis 2279 RMSCC 2279 ~ ~ TGC0343 C. immitis 2268 RMSCC 2268 ~ ~ TGC0344 C. posadasii 184 ID02-184 Bronchial wash C TGC0345 C. posadasii 3409 f0263 Sputum C TGC0346 C. posadasii VFC020 FF641 Lung aspirate C TGC0347 C. posadasii VFC002 FF416 Human C TGC0348 C. posadasii 3175 f1278 Human C TGC0349 C. posadasii 3395 f0388 Blood C TGC0350 C. posadasii 587 id03-587 Bronchial wash C TGC0351 C. immitis 2269 RMSCC 2269 ~ ~ TGC0352 C. posadasii 3198 f1194 Bronchoalveolar C lavage TGC0353 C. posadasii VFC003 FF430 Bronchial tissue C TGC0354 C. posadasii 3172 f1287 Lung aspirate C TGC0355 C. posadasii 3398 f0391 Bronchial wash C TGC0356 C. posadasii CPA0085 a03-6397 Cat C TGC0357 C. posadasii Mar-78 TGC0358 C. posadasii 3160 f1298 Femur C TGC0359 C. posadasii 3206 f1164 Human C TGC0360 C. posadasii 3335 f0565 Sputum C TGC0361 C. posadasii 3413 f0269 Human C TGC0362 C. posadasii 3538 0204-3538 Pleural fluid C TGC0363 C. posadasii 5786 0204-5786 Bone marrow C TGC0364 C. posadasii 3336 f0577 Sputum C TGC0365 C. posadasii 3168 f1295 Bronchoalveolar C lavage TGC0366 C. posadasii 3186 f1224 Bronchoalveolar C lavage TGC0367 C. posadasii 517 id03-517 Bronchial wash C TGC0368 C. posadasii 584 id03-584 Sputum C TGC0370 C. posadasii VFC018 FF584 Sputum C TGC0371 C. immitis 3693 RMSCC 3693 ~ ~ TGC0372 C. posadasii 3180 f1266 Human C TGC0373 C. posadasii 5127 0205-5127 Bronchial wash C TGC0374 C. immitis 2278 RMSCC 2278 ~ ~ TGC0375 C. posadasii 3489 f1222 Human C TGC0376 C. posadasii 3128 RMSCC 1036, B3128, f0415, Wound C [VFC 049] VFC049 TGC0379 C. posadasii 3411 f0267 Bronchus C TGC0380 C. posadasii CPA0088 a03-8172 Cat C TGC0381 C. immitis 2277 RMSCC 2277 Human C TGC0382 C. posadasii 3201 f1190 Bronchoalveolar C lavage TGC0383 C. posadasii 2294 TGC0384 C. posadasii 3166 f1309 Bronchoalveolar C lavage TGC0385 C. posadasii 4165 0204-4165 Sputum C TGC0386 C. posadasii 9888 0204-9888 Bronchial wash C TGC0387 C. posadasii 7892 0204-7892 Sputum C TGC0388 C. posadasii 3157 RMSCC 1040 Bronchoalveolar C lavage TGC0389 C. posadasii 3488 RMSCC 3488 Human C TGC0390 C. posadasii C735 Lab Strain, Patient C isolation TGC0391 C. posadasii Silveira Lab Strain, Patient C isolation TGC0392 C. posadasii CPA0066 604-1 L Soil E TGC0393 C. immitis RS Vaccine/Lab Strain, C Patient isolation TGC0394 C. posadasii 3310 f0920 Sputum C TGC0395 C. posadasii 3314 f0939 TTA C TGC0396 C. posadasii 3145 RMSCC 1037 Skin biopsy C TGC0398 C. posadasii 2133 RMSCC 2133 Human C TGC0399 C. posadasii CPA0020 485B-0 L Soil E TGC0400 C. immitis 2394 RMSCC 2394 Human C TGC0401 C. posadasii CPA0001 407-0 L Soil E TGC0402 C. immitis 3703 RMSCC 3703 Human C TGC0403 C. immitis 2014 RMSCC 2014 ~ ~ TGC0405 C. posadasii 3290 f0931 Sputum C TGC0406 C. posadasii 3352 f0676 Sputum C TGC0408 C. posadasii 3301 f0877 Bronchoalveolar C lavage TGC0409 C. posadasii 3220 f1107 Lung biopsy C TGC0410 C. posadasii 3244 f1273 Bronchoalveolar C lavage TGC0413 C. immitis 2009 RMSCC 2009 ~ ~ TGC0414 C. posadasii 3283 f1087 Sputum C TGC0415 C. posadasii 3243 f1270 Bone marrow C TGC0416 C. immitis 2274 RMSCC 2274 ~ ~ TGC0417 C. posadasii 3276 f1067 Bronchoalveolar C lavage TGC0418 C. posadasii 3222 Human C TGC0419 C. posadasii 3321 Human C TGC0420 C. posadasii 3233 f1247 Pleural fluid C TGC0421 C. posadasii 3228 f1240 Lung C TGC0422 C. posadasii 3291 f0832 Sputum C TGC0423 C. posadasii 3229 f1241 Tissue mass C TGC0424 C. posadasii 3292 f0843 Sputum C TGC0425 C. posadasii 3354 f0687 Skin biopsy C TGC0426 C. immitis 2280 RMSCC 2280 ~ ~ TGC0427 C. posadasii 3326 f0537 Lung nodule C TGC0428 C. posadasii 3296 Human C TGC0429 C. immitis 2015 RMSCC 2015 ~ ~ TGC0430 C. immitis 2273 RMSCC 2273 ~ ~ TGC0431 C. posadasii 3249 f0956 Bronchus C TGC0432 C. posadasii 3313 f0936 SE C TGC0434 C. immitis 2011 RMSCC 2011 ~ ~ TGC0435 C. posadasii 3353 f0678 Bronchial wash C TGC0436 C. posadasii 3344 f0650 Bronchial wash C TGC0437 C. posadasii 3184 f1233 Thoracentesis C TGC0438 C. posadasii 3210 f1143 Bronchoalveolar C lavage TGC0439 C. posadasii VFC038 FF569 Pleural fluid C TGC0440 C. posadasii 3161 f1299 Lung C TGC0441 C. posadasii 3185 f1232 Lung aspirate C TGC0442 C. posadasii 3197 f1196 Lung biopsy C TGC0443 C. posadasii 3181 f1236 Sputum C TGC0444 C. posadasii 2372 TGC0445 C. posadasii 3191 f1217 Lung biopsy C TGC0446 C. posadasii VFC039 FF670 Sputum C TGC0447 C. immitis 3705 RMSCC 3705 ~ ~ TGC0448 C. posadasii 3375 f0339 Lung biopsy C TGC0449 C. posadasii 3348 f0664 Lung aspirate C TGC0450 C. posadasii 3178 f1282 Bronchoalveolar C lavage TGC0451 C. posadasii 3350 Human C TGC0452 C. posadasii 3188 f1221 Sputum C TGC0453 C. posadasii 3347 f0658 Trans bronch biopsy C TGC0455 C. immitis 2105 RMSCC 2105, VFC050 Human C TGC0456 C. immitis 2006 RMSCC 2006 ~ ~ TGC0457 C. posadasii 3349 Human C TGC0458 C. posadasii 3171 f1289 Sputum C TGC0459 C. posadasii VFC057 KUM4825 Abdominal wall C tissue TGC0460 C. posadasii 3139 f1010 Sputum C TGC0461 C. posadasii 3170 f1293 Sputum C TGC0462 C. posadasii CPA0087 a03-7777 Dog C TGC0463 C. posadasii 2127 RMSCC 2127, VFC041 Human C TGC0464 C. posadasii 3179 f1283 Joint fluid C TGC0465 C. immitis 2102 RMSCC 2102 ~ ~ TGC0466 C. posadasii VFC001 F415 Forehead lesion C aspirate TGC0467 C. posadasii 3164 f1305 Sputum C TGC0469 C. posadasii 3136 f1133 Sputum C TGC0470 C. posadasii 3200 f1192 Urine C TGC0471 C. immitis 2275 RMSCC 2275 Human C TGC0472 C. posadasii 8959 0204-8959 Bronchial wash C TGC0473 C. immitis 2276 RMSCC 2276 ~ ~ TGC0474 C. posadasii 59 ID02-59 Lung biopsy C TGC0475 C. posadasii 3490 f1256 Lung C TGC0476 C. posadasii 927 id03-927 Lung biopsy C TGC0477 C. immitis 3479 RMSCC 3479 Human C TGC0478 C. posadasii 1D02-60 TGC0480 C. posadasii 3374 f0337 Skin biopsy C TGC0481 C. posadasii 3338 0205-3338 Bronchial wash C TGC0482 C. posadasii 3381 f0353 Sputum C TGC0483 C. posadasii 3368 f0328 Lung C TGC0484 C. posadasii 3129 0205-3129 Wound C TGC0485 C. posadasii 4885 0205-4885 Bronchial wash C TGC0486 C. posadasii 3420 f0280 Pleural fluid C TGC0487 C. posadasii Mar-87 TGC0488 C. posadasii 3440 f0322 Human C TGC0489 C. posadasii CPA0086 a03-7379 Llama C TGC0490 C. posadasii 674 id03-674 Lung nodule C TGC0492 C. posadasii 49 ID02-49 Bone marrow C TGC0493 C. posadasii 699 id03-699 Bronchoalveolar C lavage TGC0494 C. posadasii 3364 f0738 Shoulder C TGC0495 C. posadasii 179 ID03-179 Sputum C TGC0496 C. posadasii 8157 0204-8157 Bronchial wash C TGC0497 C. posadasii 7874/0204-7074 0204-7874 Bronchial wash C TGC0498 C. posadasii 9968 0203-9968 Bronchial wash C TGC0499 C. posadasii CPA0083 a03-4364 Cat C TGC0500 C. posadasii 8174 0204-8174 Chest fluid C TGC0501 C. posadasii 3391 TGC0502 C. posadasii 3417 f0276 Bronchial wash C TGC0503 C. posadasii 147 ID02-147 Bronchial wash C TGC0504 C. posadasii 3447 f0079 Urine C TGC0505 C. posadasii h20289 Human C TGC0506 C. posadasii 8911 0205-8911 Blood C TGC0507 C. posadasii 263 ID02-263 Sputum C TGC0508 C. posadasii 3439 f0321 Human C TGC0509 C. posadasii 3360 f0718 Sputum C TGC0511 C. posadasii 3341 f0591 Sputum C TGC0512 C. posadasii 3345 f0652 Bone marrow C TGC0513 C. posadasii 7076 0204-7076 Lung tissue C TGC0514 C. posadasii 3358 f0700 Bronchial wash C TGC0515 C. immitis 3382 f0354 Gastric aspirate C TGC0517 C. posadasii PT08141001 Forehead Wound C TGC0518 C. posadasii PT08140024 Bronch Wash C TGC0519 Unknown PT08164001 Bronch Wash C TGC0520 C. posadasii PT08148001 Bronch Wash C TGC0521 Unknown PT08172013 Bronch Wash C TGC0522 C. posadasii PT08140028 BAL C TGC0523 C. posadasii PT08128012 Bronch Wash C TGC0524 C. posadasii PT08129008 CSF C TGC0525 C. posadasii PT08126016 Sputum C TGC0526 C. posadasii PT08137008 Sputum C TGC0527 C. posadasii PT08084019 Pleural Fluid C TGC0528 C. posadasii PT08091007 Bronch Wash C TGC0529 Unknown PT08115001 Bronch Wash C TGC0530 Unknown PT08103001 Sputum C TGC0531 Unknown PT08099015 Bronch Wash C TGC0532 Unknown PT08100013 R. Chest tissue C TGC0533 Unknown PT08189001 Bronch Wash C TGC0534 Unknown PT08196009 Hip Joint C TGC0535 Unknown PT08192009 Sputum C TGC0536 Unknown PT08200005 R. Upper Lung C TGC0537 Unknown PT08172014 Bronch Wash C TGC0538 Unknown PT08189002 Bronch Wash C TGC0539 Unknown PT08179006 Left lung C TGC0540 Unknown PT08171012 BAL C TGC0541 Unknown PT08224005 Rigth lung mass C TGC0542 Unknown PT08205002 Bronch Wash C TGC0543 Unknown PT08206002 Bronch Swab C TGC0544 Unknown PT08200006 Bronch Wash C TGC0545 Unknown PT08224008 Bronch C TGC0546 Unknown PT08217008 Bronch Wash C TGC0547 Unknown PT08226004 Unknown C TGC0548 Unknown PT08203016 Sputum C TGC0552 Unknown PT08240019 Sputum TGC0553 Unknown PT08228008 Abscess, back TGC0554 Unknown PT08235003 Sputum TGC0555 Unknown PT08219008 Sputum TGC0556 Unknown PT08228009 Leg Wound TGC0557 Unknown PT08256022 Bronch Wash TGC0558 Unknown PT08231010 Lymph Node TGC0559 Unknown PT08197007 BAL TGC0560 Unknown PT08256023 Sputum TGC0561 Unknown PT08169002 Knee TGC0562 Unknown PT08266012 Right Lower Lung TGC0563 Unknown PT08267009 BAL TGC0564 Unknown PT08246015 CSF TGC0565 Unknown TG06812 Sputum TGC0566 Unknown TG6480 Sputum TGC0567 Unknown PT08288016 TGC0568 Unknown PT08297002 TGC0569 Unknown PT08297001 TGC0570 Unknown PT08294003 TGC0571 Unknown PT08301009 TGC0572 Unknown PT08302004 TGC0573 Unknown PT08301010 TGC0574 Unknown PT08303030 TGC0575 Unknown PT08288012 TGC0576 Unknown PT08303031 TGC0577 Unknown PT08284003 TGC0578 Unknown PT08283001 TGC0579 Unknown PT08288010 TGC0580 Unknown PT08319002 TGC0581 Unknown PT08304014 TGC0582 Unknown PT08288009 TGC0583 Unknown PT08246023 TGC0584 Unknown PT08308015 TGC0585 Unknown PT08283003 TGC0586 Unknown PT08246025 TGC0587 Unknown PT08246024 TGC0588 Unknown PT08246016 TGC0589 C. immitis CDCtransplant1 C TGC0590 C. immitis CDCtransplant2 C TGC0591 C. immitis CDCtransplant3 C TGC0648 C. posadasii 2343 RMSCC 2343 ~ ~ TGC0649 C. posadasii 2346 RMSCC 2346 ~ ~ TGC0650 C. posadasii 3472 RMSCC 3472 ~ ~ TGC0651 C. posadasii 3480 RMSCC 3480 ~ ~ TGC0652 C. posadasii 3487 RMSCC 3487 ~ ~ TGC0655 C. posadasii 3506 RMSCC 3506 ~ ~

Additionally, a direct comparison of CocciEnv and CocciDxQ showed that the CocciEnv assay results in an average of 1.81 and range of 1.56 to 2.05 in Ct values earlier than that from the CocciDxQ assay when screened on the same DNA (Table 11). This translates to an almost 4-fold higher capture of Coccidioides DNA in a sample.

TABLE 11 Coccidioides genomic DNA screened for a side-by-side comparison of the CocciDxQ and CocciEnv assays. CocciEnv CocciDxQ Ct value difference Sample qPCR qPCR between CocciEnv (in duplicate) Ct value Ct value and CocciDxQ TGC0004_1-3 21.18 22.92 1.74 TGC0004_1-3 21.09 22.93 1.85 TGC0213_1-3 21.37 23.14 1.77 TGC0213_1-3 21.32 23.12 1.80 TGC0222_1-3 21.17 23.00 1.83 TGC0222_1-3 21.22 23.05 1.83 TGC0293_1-3 19.24 21.11 1.88 TGC0293_1-3 19.28 21.20 1.92 TGC0306_1-3 19.38 21.27 1.89 TGC0306_1-3 19.30 21.24 1.95 TGC0319_1-3 16.75 18.66 1.90 TGC0319_1-3 16.80 18.50 1.70 TGC0332_1-3 17.68 19.66 1.98 TGC0332_1-3 17.67 19.64 1.97 TGC0350_1-3 18.57 20.57 2.00 TGC0350_1-3 18.49 20.54 2.05 TGC0385_1-3 17.31 19.30 2.00 TGC0385_1-3 17.25 19.28 2.03 TGC0392_1-3 26.49 28.46 1.97 TGC0392_1-3 26.49 28.43 1.94 TGC0396_1-3 19.00 20.98 1.97 TGC0396_1-3 18.85 20.91 2.06 TGC0404_1-3 14.60 16.56 1.96 TGC0404_1-3 14.68 16.50 1.82 TGC0408_1-3 18.90 20.61 1.71 TGC0408_1-3 18.85 20.60 1.75 TGC0434_1-3 16.97 18.58 1.61 TGC0434_1-3 16.99 18.55 1.56 TGC0442_1-3 20.58 22.21 1.63 TGC0442_1-3 20.62 22.20 1.58 TGC0450_1-3 19.79 21.50 1.70 TGC0450_1-3 19.81 21.53 1.72 TGC0453_1-3 17.98 19.81 1.83 TGC0453_1-3 17.91 19.81 1.90 TGC0458_1-3 19.98 21.58 1.61 TGC0458_1-3 19.81 21.57 1.76 TGC0467_1-3 20.09 21.82 1.73 TGC0467_1-3 20.02 21.81 1.79 TGC0470_1-3 18.90 20.68 1.78 TGC0470_1-3 18.91 20.55 1.64 TGC0473_1-3 20.74 22.42 1.67 TGC0473_1-3 20.77 22.35 1.58 TGC0478_1-3 17.64 19.25 1.61 TGC0478_1-3 17.65 19.30 1.65 TGC0528_1-3 35.12 36.79 1.66 TGC0528_1-3 Negative 36.91 Average no. cycles of earlier amplification 1.81 of gDNA with CocciEnv versus CocciDxQ assay 

We claim:
 1. A method of detecting Coccidioides in a DNA-containing sample comprising the steps of: adding a first and a second oligonucleotide capable of binding SEQ ID NO. 1 to a mixture comprising the DNA-containing sample, wherein the first oligonucleotide includes at least one sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 10-14 and oligonucleotides having at least 90% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 10-14, wherein the second oligonucleotide includes at least one sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 21-27, 32, and 34, and oligonucleotides having at least 90% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 21-27, 32, and 34; subjecting the mixture containing the first and second oligonucleotides to conditions that allow amplification of nucleic acid comprising the first oligonucleotide; and detecting whether Coccidioides is present in the DNA-containing sample by detecting nucleic acid amplification of Coccidioides DNA.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the result comprises a Ct value.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first oligonucleotide is capable of hybridizing with complements of SEQ ID NO: 10, and the second oligonucleotide is capable of hybridizing with complements of SEQ ID NO: 21 in the mixture.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding a third oligonucleotide to the mixture, wherein the third oligonucleotide binds to its complement included in the amplification products by the first and second oligonucleotides.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the third oligonucleotide includes a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 2 and oligonucleotides having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO.
 2. 6. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the first, the second and the third oligonucleotides comprises a label.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the label comprises a fluorescent label.
 8. The methods of claim 6, wherein the third oligonucleotide comprises a fluorescent label.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of isolating DNA from the DNA-containing sample.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample comprises an environmental sample.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the environmental sample comprises a soil sample.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample is derived from a subject.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the subject is selected from the group consisting of a human, a companion animal, a domesticated animal, a livestock animal, and a wild animal species.
 14. A method of quantifying Coccidioides in a DNA-containing sample comprising the steps of: adding a first and a second oligonucleotide capable of binding SEQ ID NO. 1 to a mixture comprising the DNA-containing sample, wherein the first oligonucleotide includes at least one sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 10-14 and oligonucleotides having at least 90% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 10-14, wherein the second oligonucleotide includes at least one sequence selected from the group comprising consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 21-27, 32, and 34, and oligonucleotides having at least 90% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 21-27, 32, and 34; subjecting the mixture containing the first and second oligonucleotides to conditions that allow amplification of a template DNA comprising the first oligonucleotide; and detecting the amount of Coccidioides DNA in the sample based on the relative quantity of Coccidioides DNA amplification to a reference result.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the reference result is obtained by amplification of a DNA-containing sample having a known quantity of Coccidioides.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the reference result is predetermined.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first and the reference result each comprises a Ct value.
 18. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of adding a third oligonucleotide to the mixture, wherein the third oligonucleotide binds to its complement included in the amplification products by the first and second oligonucleotides.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the third oligonucleotide includes a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 2 and oligonucleotides having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:
 2. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first, the second, and the third oligonucleotides comprises a label.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the label comprises a fluorescent label.
 22. The method of claim 20, wherein the third oligonucleotide comprises a fluorescent label.
 23. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of isolating DNA from the DNA-containing sample.
 24. The method of claim 14, wherein the sample comprises an environmental sample.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the environmental sample comprises a soil sample.
 26. The method of claim 14, wherein the sample is derived from a subject, and further wherein the subject is selected from the group consisting of a human, a companion animal, a domesticated animal, a livestock animal, and a wild animal species. 